The Hesston College baseball team was unable to defend their Region 6/16 Tournament title as they fell one game short of reaching the championship. The tournament was hosted by Moberly Area CC at Howard Hills Athletic Complex in Moberly, Mo. from May 9-10. The fourth-seeded Larks dropped their opening match up to top-seeded East Central College 9-0 on Thursday. On Friday, Hesston advanced to the consolation semifinal after a 7-4 win over MACC, but the Larks' season came to a close in the next round falling to North Central Missouri 11-0.

Game One - Hesston 0, East Central 9

The Falcons got the bats going early plating four runs in the opening frame on a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly. Lark starter Jarod Fugate began to settle in allowing only one hit and holding East Central scoreless over the next two frames. The Falcons added to their lead with a pair of runs scored on an RBI double in the fourth. ECC scored their final three runs in the fifth inning. The Larks were unable to kick start their offensive production and the game ended 9-0 in the seventh inning.

Fugate went the distance for the Larks tossing six innings allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs with two walks and two strikeouts. Adam DeBoer earned the win for the Falcons allowing two hits in seven innings walking three batters and striking out four. 

Aiden McCullough and Michael Clayton each recorded a hit in the contest

DeVon Jennings led ECC at the plate going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

Game Two - Hesston 7, Moberly Area CC 4

After a tough loss in the opening round, the Larks faced elimination as they took on the Moberly Area CC Greyhounds. 

The Larks took advantage of a Greyhound fielding error to get on the board in the opening frame before Brian Walker hit into a fielder's choice bringing home McCullough who reached on a walk. 

Hesston starter Dylan Rich escaped a jam to keep the Greyhounds off the board in the first, but a sacrifice fly in the following frame cut into the Hesston lead. Walker collected his second RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly of his own in the third inning to stretch the lead back to two, but the Greyhounds scored a run  on another sacrifice fly in the fourth. 

Base hits from Collin Pitzer and Carlos Roman set up a successful sacrifice bunt attempt by Braxton Byers to put the Larks up 4-2 midway through the contest. The Larks got the bats going again the eighth as Walker led off the inning with a double followed by hits from Braylan Bell and Clayton to drive in Walker. An intentional walk to Jaden Johannesen loaded the bases for Pitzer who drew a walk bringing home Bell. The Larks last run came on a sacrifice fly from McCullough to put Hesston up 7-2. 

The Greyhounds crossed the plate once in each of the last two innings but could not overcome the deficit as Hesston avoided elimination with a 7-4 victory. 

Rich earned the win on the bump for Hesston allowing two runs on four hits over 5.2 innings. Zandon Mitchell earned his first save of the season with a solid relief appearance giving up two runs on four hits in 3.1 frames walking two and striking out two. 

Sam Bespoyasny took the loss for MACC allowing four runs on five hits though six innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

Walker led the team with two RBI while McCullough, Bell, Roman and Clayton each recorded two hits for the Larks.

Game Three - Hesston 0, North Central Missouri 11

The Larks and the Pirates faced off in the second elimination game for a chance to play for the region championship. 

The Larks found themselves in scoring position with two outs in the opening frame, but a strikeout ended the inning. The Pirates got on the board in the home half with a two-out RBI triple. Lark starter Paxton Rees found himself in another two-out jam in the second inning when the Pirates plated four runs on back-to-back doubles. Canon Stewart entered in relief for the Larks, but the Pirate really continued as they hit a home run in the next at bat pushing their lead to 7-0. 

NCMC plated four more runs in the third including a three-run home run. The Lark offense was unable to find rhythm at the plate as the game ended 11-0 in five innings. 

Rees took the loss allowing six runs on four hits in 1.2 innings with two walks. Stewart went 1.1 innings in relief allowing five runs on five hits. Connor Bear also tossed an inning of relief sitting NCMC down in order in the fourth. Pitzer and Carson Kane each recorded a hit for the Larks. 

Eric Torrero earned the win for NCMC allowing only one hit over three innings and added five strikeouts and two walks to his season totals. Julio Guerrero led the Pirates at the plate going 2-for-3 with 6 RBI.