Storm Can't Hold Early Lead in 2A Semifinal Loss at Murray

Hopkins County Central grabbed an early lead, but the homestanding Murray Tigers roared back to claim a 13-3 victory.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 9:07am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a high school baseball game, with sharp planes of navy, green, and orange overlapping to capture the dynamic energy of the competition.A cubist interpretation of the intense back-and-forth action on the diamond as the Murray Tigers rallied to defeat the Hopkins County Central Storm in the 2A semifinal.Murray Today

In the Kentucky 2A Championships sectional semifinals, Hopkins County Central jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with RBI doubles from Sawyer Allen and Brody Smith. However, the Murray Tigers responded with six runs in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good, eventually winning 13-3 on the 10-run mercy rule.

Why it matters

This loss ends Hopkins County Central's season in the 2A semifinals, while Murray advances to the next round of the state tournament. The game showcased the resilience of the Murray Tigers, who were able to overcome an early deficit and dominate the rest of the contest.

The details

Murray (6-4) countered Hopkins County Central's early lead with six runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Tigers then added five more runs in the fourth inning to take an 11-3 advantage. The game ended in the bottom of the fifth on the 10-run mercy rule. Murray was led by Avery Starks, who went 3-for-3 and scored three times. Jacob Crady was the winning pitcher for the Tigers, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking three before getting relief help.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • Hopkins County Central is scheduled to play again on Thursday, April 9, 2026 when it hosts Lyon County.

The players

Sawyer Allen

A player for Hopkins County Central who hit an RBI double in the top of the first inning.

Brody Smith

A player for Hopkins County Central who hit an RBI double in the top of the first inning.

Avery Starks

A player for Murray who went 3-for-3 and scored three times.

Jacob Crady

The winning pitcher for Murray, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking three.

Neilan Bruce

The starting pitcher for Hopkins County Central who suffered the loss.

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What’s next

Hopkins County Central is scheduled to play again on Thursday, April 9, 2026 when it hosts Lyon County.

The takeaway

The game showcased the resilience of the Murray Tigers, who were able to overcome an early deficit and dominate the rest of the contest to advance in the 2A state tournament.