The Caldwell County Tigers got rid of a three-game losing skid on Monday, beating Hopkins County Central 12-2 in six innings at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton.
Tate VanHooser picked up the win on the mound for the Tigers, tossing a complete-game three-hitter. VanHooser struck out eight and walked three. Meanwhile, he was also 3-for-3 at the plate while scoring three runs and knocking in two more for Caldwell, which is now 9-11 on the season.
Hopkins Central got both of its runs in the top of the first inning before VanHooser settled down on the mound. All three of the Storm’s free passes came in the opening frame.
Caldwell answered with two runs in the home half of the first inning. Deontaye Walls had an RBI double while Brady Holeman drove in the tying run with a groundout to first.
The Tigers took the lead with two more runs in the third. Jamus Carneyhan singled home the go-ahead run on a blooper over the third baseman’s head. Hunter Newsom singled in another run to make it 4-2.
A three-run fourth inning was highlighted by an RBI double by Holeman and a run-scoring single by Walls as Caldwell stretched its lead to 7-2.
VanHooser’s two-run single in the bottom of the fifth made it 9-2.
Caldwell finished the game with three runs in the sixth. Two runs came around when Carter Whittington grounded into a fielder’s choice at second. The game-ending run scored on an infield single by Logan Smiley.
Carter Whittington was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Tigers. Walls was 3-for-3 with a double and knocked in two. Newsom was 2-for-4 and drove in a run.
Tyler McKinney went 2-for-3 for Hopkins Central, which is now 3-21.
The Tigers are scheduled to play at home again Tuesday when they host Union County.
Caldwell will look to avenge a tight 11-10 loss at Union County last month.
The Braves are 15-13 on the season.
Caldwell holds a narrow 25-24 advantage in the all-time series with Union County.