Hoppers Walk Off Mammoths, 7-6
UTICA, Mich. – The Westside Woolly Mammoths (10-5) came up just short on Sunday afternoon, falling to the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (4-13), 7-6, in a back-and-forth contest that wasn’t decided until the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Mammoths’ offense showed plenty of power, launching two home runs and scoring in four different innings. Dante Morton got the scoring started with a two-run homer in the third inning, while Jordan Viars added a two-run blast in the fifth as the Mammoths built a 6-5 lead. Morton finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs, while Viars drove in two runs of his own. Dalton Pearson added two hits and scored twice in the effort.
On the mound, Daniel Barcena worked five innings, striking out five while allowing five runs. Gavin Brasosky added four strikeouts in relief.
The Hoppers answered with timely power of their own, getting home runs from Bailey Martin and Jordan Malott. Martin led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including the game-tying and go-ahead runs that helped erase a late Mammoths advantage.
After the Mammoths took a 6-5 lead in the seventh inning, the Hoppers rallied with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull ahead for good. Despite drawing eight walks and collecting seven hits, the Mammoths stranded 11 runners on base in the one-run loss.