HESSTON, Kan. – The Hesston College baseball team dropped a three-game set to North Central Missouri College over the weekend (Mar. 29-30). The Lark pitching staff faced some struggles, allowing 34 runs in the series. Hesston will be back in action on Tuesday (Apr. 1) as they host Dodge City Community College for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

Game 1 – Hesston College 5, North Central Missouri College 11

The Pirates jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning before adding four more runs in the third. The Larks got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Kaleb Wise drove in Lucas Dunn who reached on a triple a few at bats earlier. Wise batted in Dunn again in the fifth to trim the Pirate lead to 6-2. NCMC manufactured three runs in the sixth, but the Larks answered in the home half with three runs of their own to make the score 9-5. Jett Millsap reached on a Pirate error which allowed Sterling Lies to score, who reached on a leadoff double. Dunn and Luke Richard followed with back-to-back RBI hits to round out the inning. NCMC scored two more runs in the seventh and hung on to take the series opener 11-5.

Dunn finished 3-for-4 on the day with two doubles, a triple and an RBI.

Yuya Omata was the starter for Hesston going three innings and allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits while striking out four batters.

Game 2 – Hesston College 5, North Central Missouri College 13

The Pirates plated two runs in the top of the opening frame in the second game. Hesston tied things up in the bottom of the third as Richard blasted a two-run home run over the wall in center field. The Pirates quickly regained the lead with four runs in the following half-inning. Wise reached on a double to lead off the home half before Chris Cammllarie doubled to bring him in, cutting the Pirate lead to 6-3. NCMC put the game out of reach with a six-run rally in the sixth inning and they added one more in the seventh. The Larks plated two more runs in the bottom of the seventh on Richard's second home run of the day, but it wasn't enough to avoid the run rule as they fell 13-5.

Richard was 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Dunn also went 2-for-4 in the game including a double.

Zach Guntle got the nod for Hesston allowing two runs on three hits and four walks and one strikeout through 2.1 frames of work. Brayden Haire took the loss allowing four runs on three hits and a walk in 1.1 innings.

Game 3 – Hesston College 1, North Central Missouri College 10

The Pirates were in control from start to finish in the finale as they took an 8-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth. The Larks lone run came on a solo bomb by Kelvin Malone, his first of the season. NCMC plated two more runs in the sixth to wrap up scoring and took the series finale in seven innings, 10-1.

Malone went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Dunn, Wise, and Braxton Byers also recorded a hit for the Larks.

Richard took the loss for Hesston allowing seven runs on seven hits through two innings. Millsap made a solid relief appearance allowing only one run on five hits through three innings of work.