Mt. Pulaski overcame a slow start to dominate Illini Bluffs 10-1 in Tomahawk Conference high school baseball action on Thursday in Mt. Pulaski. 

Illini Bluffs scored a lone run early, but Mt. Pulaski responded emphatically, highlighted by a six-run explosion in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

A walk to Liam Smith started the . Chance Payne followed with a double, driving in Smith. Luke Martin then walked. Aaron Volle singled, scoring Payne. Two batters later, Preston Cowan singled, bringing home Martin and advancing Volle to third on an error, with Cowan taking second. 

Tyler Cross singled, holding Cowan at third. Volle then scored on a wild pitch. Chase Roberts grounded out, allowing Cowan to score. Eric Cooper capped off the inning with a single, scoring Cross.

Payne was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Volle went 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored two runs. Cowan was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Cooper also contributed 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

Martin earned the win, going five innings and allowing one earned run on three hits, striking out eight. Smith fired a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, and Volle closed it out with a scoreless inning - striking out one.

The Hilltoppers improve to 12-3 overall and 3-0 in the Tomahawk Conference. They will visit Springfield Lanphier this afternoon.