HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Hesston College baseball took two out of three games in their series against Champion Christian College over the weekend taking the first two games 9-8 and 7-4 before falling 5-1 in the finale. Junior Kaleb Wise hit an astonishing five home runs in the series to give him 15 bombs for the season, breaking the single-season program record.
Game 1 – Hesston College 9, Champion Christian 8
Bats were blistered in the series opener as the two teams combined for 23 hits. The Tigers got on the board first with a solo home run in the second, but the Larks answered immediately in the top of the third as Wise sent a long ball over the center field wall for a three-run home run. Champion Christian added one in the third and three in the fourth to go up 5-3 before the Larks racked up their biggest inning of the game scoring five runs in the fifth. Corbin Broyles kicked things off with an RBI single before Wise clubbed his second homer of the game, this one a two-run shot. Kreyton Johnson wrapped up the scoring with a two-RBI double to put the Larks up 8-5. The Tigers plated one in the home half and tied things up in the eighth with a pair of runs. The tying run came on a full count RBI single with two outs. The tie didn't last long as Wise belted his third homer in the top of the ninth to put the Larks ahead for good.
Wise led the Larks at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three bombs and five RBI. Broyles went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Cole Steinrich also recorded a two-hit day.
Regan Kelley earned his first career win putting up a scoreless frame to close out the game with a pair of punchouts.
Game 2 – Hesston College 7, Champion Christian 4
The Larks and Tigers battled back and forth in game two of the series before a four-run top of the sixth put the Larks ahead for good. Wise put the Larks on the board in the opening frame with a solo home run to left field. The Tigers answered in the third with a pair of RBI base hits to go in front 2-1. The Larks and Tigers traded blows to tie the game at 3-3 entering the fifth. Trentis Lane clubbed a two-RBI triple in the top of the fourth before Champion Christian answered with an RBI single. Wise kicked off the scoring in the sixth with his second solo shot of the game. Julian Cruz reached on a fielder's choice before Johnson moved him to third on a double to right field and eventually scoring on a wild pitch. Chris Cammllarie wrapped up the inning plating a pair of runs with a base hit to left field putting the Larks up 7-3. The Tigers managed to plate one in the final frame, but the Larks held on to clinch the series win.
Wise finished 2-for-3 with two bombs and two RBI. Johnson and Lane also had multiple hits while Lane added a pair of RBIs as well.
Aaron Shipp earned the win for the Larks tossing a pair of scoreless innings to help the Larks take the lead in the sixth. The freshman gave up one free pass and struck out one in his outing.
Game 3 – Hesston College 1, Champion Christian 5
The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the opening frame scoring all five of their runs in the bottom of the first. The Larks struggled to create offensive opportunities as they only put a runner in scoring position twice in the game. The Larks lone run came on a long RBI single by Lane.
Steinrich provided the only other hit in the contest for the Larks with a double in the sixth inning.
After the big scoring inning for the Tigers, Garrett Hanson, Jay Smith and Christian Buchanan combined to hold the Tigers hitless for the remainder of the contest.
