KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Hesston College baseball team won one out of four games in a series with Metropolitan Community College from Sunday (Feb. 23) to Monday (Feb. 24). The Larks struggled to get the bats going in their first two games, but quickly found their rhythm on Monday led by Lucas Dunn went 6-for-8 with four doubles and two RBI. The Larks will be back in action on Thursday (Feb. 27) as they take on Redlands Community College in a doubleheader starting at noon in El Reno, Okla.
Game 1 – Hesston College 2, Metropolitan Community College 9
Hesston College fell short in the first game of their doubleheader against Metropolitan Community College, losing 2-9. The Wolves took control early leading 5-0 heading into the third where Hesston plated their only two runs of the contest on an RBI single from Michael Clayton who came around to score on a ground ball to the left side.
Five Larks managed a hit in the contest, Dunn, Clayton, Colin Pitzer, Cadin Atwell and Sincere Lozano. Zach Guntle took the loss, allowing six runs over three innings, while Michael Cook and Jackson Sundermeyer pitched in relief.
Game 2 – Hesston College 0, Metropolitan Community College 10
The second game was a tough outing for Hesston as they were shut out 10-0 in six innings. Metropolitan dominated offensively, breaking the game open with a six-run second inning and adding four more runs across the fourth and sixth innings.
Hesston struggled to generate offense, managing just five hits while committing three errors. Dunn recorded a pair of base knocks in the contest while Pitzer, Chris Camllarie and Lucas Peel also recorded a hit. Jett Millsap started on the mound but ran into trouble early, giving up six runs (four earned) in just over an inning. Brayden Haire came in as relief but could not slow down the Wolves' offense.
Game 3 – Hesston College 9, Metropolitan Community College 8
Bats were flying in game three as the two teams combined for 27 hits in seven innings.
The Larks jumped ahead in the opening frame on an RBI double from Dunn who would later score on a fielding error by the Wolves. Metro responded in the top of the second taking the lead 3-2. Dunn led off the bottom of the third with a double to right before crossing the plate a second time to tie things up.
The Wolves took the lead back in the fifth on an RBI single before Pitzer and Trentis Lane each slugged in a run putting the Larks up 5-4. In the sixth, Metro regained the lead scoring four runs on three hits to lead 8-4, but it didn't last as the Larks responded with a five-run seventh to win the game.
A fielders' choice with the bases loaded brought home Lane before a pair of RBI singles from Clayton and Pitzer tied things up. The final blow came from Luke Richard as he singled up the middle to walk it off.
Dunn finished 4-for-4 with an RBI and Pitzer went 4-for-5 and batted in two runs.
Yuya Omata was the starter for HC tossing four innings and allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Kaleb Wise earned the win for the Larks tossing the final inning and holding the Wolves scoreless before the big offensive effort from the Larks.
Game 4 – Hesston College 8, Metropolitan Community College 11
The Larks were in control of the contest early plating five runs in the first inning. The Wolves got on the board first with a two-run homer in the top of the inning, but Hesston responded with a pair of RBI singles and a two-run shot of their own by Lane to go up 5-2 after the first. The Larks padded their lead in the third as a sacrifice bunt set up Dunn to score on a ground ball to the short stop.
The Wolves hit their second two-run home run of the game in the top of the fourth, but the Larks responded with a pair in the bottom of the fifth to go up 8-4. A lead off walk by Pitzer would generate the first run of the inning as Richard hit a triple to right. Richard would score on the next play on a sacrifice fly by Lane for his third RBI of the day.
From here it was all Metro as they plated three runs in the seventh and eighth innings and scored their final run in the ninth to secure the series win.
Lane went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and Richard with 2-for-4 with three RBI as well.
Richard also served as the starting pitcher for this game tossing four innings and allowing for runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four. Wise was charged with the loss in this contest giving up three runs in the seventh inning to give the Wolves the lead for good.
