Fulton’s Milius, Hagens lock up 6-5 win vs. Mexico

For the second straight game, Ethan Milius had the game-winning hit for Fulton. But the ending was more important for the Hornets this time.

Fulton defeated North Central Missouri Conference rival Mexico 6-5 in the first round of the Class 4 District 8 Tournament in Ashland after a two-run top of the seventh inning, highlighted by a game-tying double by Dusty Hagens and the game-winning single by Milius.

In Fulton’s regular season finale Wednesday, Milius drove in two runs in the sixth inning for a 4-2 lead and his first career run-scoring hit. The Hornets (12-11) would need a comeback again against their bitter rival, whom they split their previous two meetings this year.

Woodrow Foster hit an RBI double to put Fulton on the scoreboard first in the first inning and Ryan Newman followed with a single for a 2-0 Fulton lead.

In the second, Mexico (15-10) took the 3-2 lead as Maxwell doubled home two runs against senior pitcher Lincoln Smith before Ty Sims hit a RBI double in the next at-bat.

The situation grew worse in the fourth inning against Walker Gohring when Brock Smythe hit an RBI triple and then Andrew Runge reached on a dropped third strike, which allowed a run to score for a 5-3 Mexico lead.

Hagens — who was a home run away from the cycle — scored on an error in the fifth inning and then allowed pinch-runner Grant Derenzy to stretch his legs in the seventh inning when he hit a double to center. Derenzy scored the tying run and then Hagens scored his third and the team’s sixth run on Milius’ single through the middle.

To secure the win, team ace Hagens was asked to get the final three outs in the bottom half of the inning.

Fulton faces top seed and Class 4 No. 2 Southern Boone (28-2) at 5 p.m. today in the semifinals.