Christian County High School allowed double-digit runs for the sixth time in eight games and found itself on the wrong end of a 17-5 loss Tuesday at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
After the Colonels jumped ahead 1-0 on Patrick Liddell’s RBI single in the top of the first inning, the Maroons proceeded to score two, five, six, and four runs, respectively, in the first four innings, leading to a run-shortened, five-inning affair.
Collin Crook and Hunter Gossett did the bulk of the damage for Madisonville, each driving in four runs to give MNHHS (3-3) its third straight win — all five-inning, mercy-ruled triumphs.
The Maroons struck back quickly after falling behind early, capitalizing on one of six Christian County errors in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead for good. The wheels then came off for CCHS in the second inning, as Madisonville started the frame single-single-HBP-walk-single to begin pulling away.
Madisonville-North Hopkins managed to score 17 runs — its highest output since April 26, 2019 — on just a pair of extra-base hits. Parker Mathis and Luke Barton combined for seven runs scored, four hits, four RBIs, two walks, and a stolen base to round out the crooked-number decision.
Despite trailing by seven runs after two innings, the visiting Colonels did not quit. Sophomore Brylle Javier singled in Elijah Underhill, immediately followed by a run-scoring Maroon error off a line drive from Liddell, cutting Madisonville’s lead to 7-3.
Christian County then had single-run frames in the fourth and the fifth, following an RBI triple from Underhill and bases-load walk by freshman Robert Irving, but that’s all the Cols were able to muster in the 12- run loss.
The top three batters in the Christian County lineup — Underhill, Javier and Liddell — did manage to stay hot, going a collective 5-for-8 with four runs, four stolen bases, and each with an RBI.
Neither CCHS starting pitcher Chance Henderson (0-2), nor succeeding reliever Carter Sholar lasted two full innings on the mound. In a total of four innings, the duo gave up 12 hits and 14 runs (nine earned), while walking one and striking out none. Joshua Snorton managed to strike out the side in the fifth, but allowed three unearned runs and walked two in his lone inning of work.
In his first appearance of the year, Landon Cline (1-0) sat down a dozen via strikeout and gave up three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Jonathon Cain struck out a pair and was perfect during 2/3 innings of relief to close out the game.
Christian County (1-7) takes a day off before playing its fourth of five straight road games on April 15, traveling to Tiger Field for a crosstown district pairing with unbeaten Hopkinsville.