HESSTON, Kan. – The Hesston College baseball team swept a doubleheader against the Midamerica Nazarene University JV on Wednesday (Mar. 26). The Larks won both games in run-rule walk-off fashion. The Larks will be at home this weekend (March 29-30) for a series with North Central Missouri College. Saturday's doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. and Sunday's series finale will start at 12 p.m.
Game 1 – Hesston College 11, Midamerica Nazarene 1
The Larks got off to a hot start in the opener scoring six runs in the first inning. Kelvin Malone drew a walk in the leadoff spot for Hesston and would come around as the Larks first run on a passed ball. Jett Millsap drove in a run with an RBI single to right field. A pair of hit by pitches plated the third run before Chris Cammllarie singled to the MNU left fielder who mishandled it resulting in three more runs for Hesston. The Larks added two more runs in the second on a Kaleb Wise double to the left center gap. Colby Simkins held the Pioneers in check as Hesston's starter, tossing three hitless innings. The Pioneers scratched across one run on a Lark fielding error in the top of the fifth, but Hesston responded with three runs in the home half to take the opener in five innings. Malone clubbed in the first run of the inning with a double to left and he would later cross the plate for the second time in the game on a sacrifice fly by RJ Cruz. A groundout by Michael Clayton allowed the final Hesston run to score as the Larks took game one, 11-1.
The Larks tallied six hits in the game including three doubles and a triple by Kaleb Cain.
Simkins earned the win tossing three perfect innings while striking out a pair of batters. Camden Cornelius made a meaningful relief appearance tossing two innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits and a walk while also punching out two batters.
Game 2 – Hesston College 13, Midamerica Nazarene 3
It took longer for the Larks to get going in the second game, as the Pioneers took an early lead plating a run in the opening frame. The Larks batted in a pair of runs to take the lead in the fourth inning on a single by Wise and a double by Peyton Rush. The Pioneers scratched across another run in the next half inning to tie things up, but the Larks answered with nine runs in the bottom of the fifth. Luke Richard led things off with an RBI single to left field. The Larks loaded the bases before a pair of walks, a single by Colin Pitzer, and a sacrifice fly by Sincere Lozano brought in four runs to put the Larks up 7-2. RBI singles from Malone and Lucas Dunn and a passed ball brought home four more runs. The Pioneers added one more run in the sixth, but Lozano clubbed a walk off 2 RBI double down the right field line to clinch the series sweep for Hesston.
Richard finished the game 3-of-4 at the plate with a double and 3 RBI. Lozano also batted in three runs.
Michael Cook earned the win for Hesston, tossing 2.2 innings in relief and allowing one unearned run on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
