Marauders fall to HSE in opener

Mt. Vernon took an early lead and rallied late, but Hamilton Southeastern used a big surge midway through the game to beat the Marauders 9-5 in Monday's baseball season opener.

MV jumped ahead 2-0 early, as CF Zach Norman hit a home run to left in the first and then hit an RBI single in the second to drive in 2B Derek Barnett. MV had a chance for more, but left the bases loaded in the first.

HSE took the lead in the bottom of the second with three runs, and then added two more in the third on a 2-RBI single by DH Sean Green to take a 5-2 lead off MV starting pitcher Jake Mills.

MV cut into the lead in the fourth when Barnett scored his second run of the game, but again left the bases loaded. HSE then added three runs in the bottom of the fifth off reliever Troy Montgomery by loading the bases with one out, and then clearing them on an RBI groundout and two-run error, and then added another run in the sixth.

MV rallied in the top of the seventh, as C Zach McFarland, Mills and SS Tyler Langdon had back-to-back-to-back singles. A wild pitch and an RBI single by Barnett made it a 9-5 game, but HSE's Cody Christianson came on to get the final out and the save. HSE's starter Taylor Hackett gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings of work. Nathan Upchurch held MV scoreless for 2 1/3 before Grant Frankland allowed the MV mini-rally in the 7th.

MV is now 0-1 on the season, and plays its home opener Tuesday against Fishers. The Marauders meet New Palestine on Friday night in the first HHC doubleheader of the year, and the first broadcast at HancockCountySports.com.