The Hesston College baseball team suffered a series sweep on the road at North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Mo. in their regular season finale. The Pirates took the opener 10-0 on Saturday (May 4) before winning 13-3 and 11-3 in the Sunday (May 5) doubleheader. The Larks finished the regular season 9-34 overall while the Pirates improved to 24-23 overall. Both teams will prepare for the Region 6/16 Tournament that will begin on Thursday, May 9. 

Game One - Hesston College 0, North Central Missouri College 10

NCMC got the bats going early in the opener plating a run with an RBI double from Wilmer Jimenez in the first inning.

The Pirates added to their lead in the third frame with a three-run blast by Jordi Ventura over the right field fence before a sacrifice bunt helped them stretch their lead to 5-0 in the fourth. 

The Pirates took advantage of a handful of free bases as a trio of walks loaded the bases in the fifth inning. NCMC scored a run in four straight at-bats with two walks, an RBI single and a hit by pitch. The Larks hoped to escape the inning after recording the second out of the inning at home plate, but another walk lifted the Pirates over the Larks 10-0 in five innings. 

Allan Martinez earned the win on the mound allowing one hit and zero runs over five innings, striking out nine and walking two. Dylan Rich recorded the loss for the Larks allowing three hits and one run over two innings, striking out one and walking none.

Conner Bear tossed two innings in relief allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk. Caleb Huntsman and Edwin Robles combined to pitch the final inning.  

Jaden Johannesen recorded the lone hit for the Larks finishing the day 1-for-2 at the plate.  

Alejandro Paz led the Pirates at the plate going 2-for-4 on the day.

Game Two - Hesston College 3, North Central Missouri College 13

The Pirates jumped off to an early lead again in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader as Jimenez drove a double to center field scoring Paz who reached on a lead off walk. NCMC found a rhythm in the following frame scoring six runs on four hits. An RBI double from Landon Wells plated two runs before a two-out grand slam by Jimenez stretched the North Central Missouri lead. 

The Larks found some life in the top half of the third as Johannesen singled to center to bring home Cutter Livermore. The sophomore infielder would later cross the plate on a single through the left side by center fielder Aiden McCullough. In the home half, the Pirates collected four more runs on an RBI double from Paz and a three-run home run from Julio Guerrero putting them up 11-2. 

Johannesen collected his second RBI of the contest with a solo home run to left field in the top of the fifth, but the Pirates answered with a pair of runs in the sixth on a ground out and a fielding error by the shortstop ending the game.

Jarod Fugate led things off on the mound for the Larks surrendering five hits and seven runs (three earned) over two innings, striking out one and walking two. Carson Kane tossed an inning of relief allowing four runs on four hits and a walk with on punch out. Deklan Kulaski threw a scoreless inning of relief surrendering only one hit and Garrett Hanson closed out the contest for the Larks allowing two runs on two hits through 1.1 frames. 

Eric Torrero opened the game for NCMC giving up three runs on three hits over five innings, striking out eight and walking two. Alex Smith entered in relief and tossed a scoreless inning while striking out a pair. 

Johannesen went 2-for-3 at the plate and led the team with two RBI.

NCMC piled up 12 hits in the game. Jimenez led the Pirates with five runs batted in going 3-for-4 on the day. Ventura also had an impressive day at the plate going 2-for-3 in the contest. 

Game Three - Hesston College 3, North Central Missouri College 11

The Larks got on the board first in the series finale, but the Pirates rallied to take the lead and completed the sweep.

Johannesen wore a pitch to lead off the game and later stole home in a double steal play.

Paxton Rees got the nod for the Larks in Game Three setting the Pirates down in order in the bottom of the opening frame.

Hesston stretched their lead in the following inning as McCullough drove in Kane who reached on a hit by pitch, but the Pirates answered with a five run home half to take the lead for good with an RBI single, a sacrifice fly and a pair of Lark fielding errors. North Central Missouri added another run in the fourth to stretch their lead to 6-2. 

The Larks plated their final run of the contest in the sixth inning with a solo home run over the wall in left from Kane. NCMC plated four runs in the home half on the sixth and one in the seventh to end the game.

Rees recorded the loss surrendering three hits and five runs (one earned) over two innings. Zandon Mitchell appeared in relief for the Larks allowing only one run on one hit and a pair of walks through two frames. Canon Stewart also made a relief appearance surrendering four runs on five hits and two walks with two punch outs. Zach Guntle closed out the day on the mound for the Larks allowing one run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout. 

Kevin Toala earned the win for the Pirates allowing three hits and two runs over four innings, striking out four and walking three. Camden Lutz tossed three innings of relief for NCMC allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts.

Johannesen, McCullough, Kane, Pablo Arnaud and Carlos Roman each collected a hit for the Larks. The Larks were pretty shifty on the bags stealing three bases in the game.

NCMC recorded 10 hits in the game. Ventura led the Pirates with three RBI going 2-for-4 on the day. The Pirates also stole four bases in the game.

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