Hutchinson CC Sports Information
COLBY – The Hutchinson Community College baseball team avoided a damaging KJCCC sweep against it on Thursday with an eight-run eighth inning in Game 2 against Colby to earn a split with the Trojans.
After being shut out on one hit in a 4-0 loss to the Trojans in the series opener at Young Memorial Park, the Blue Dragons trailed Game 2 by four runs after six innings. The Blue Dragons scored nine unanswered runs, including eight runs in the eighth to rally for a 13-8 victory.
The Blue Dragons improve to 23-18 overall and 12-10 in the Jayhawk West, which is good for fifth place. Third-place Colby is now 28-13 overall and 15-7 in league play. Games 3 and 4 of the series will be at 1 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Game 2 comeback for the Blue Dragons tied the largest deficit to rally for a win this season. The four-run comeback matches the March 4 comeback from four runs down at Coffeyville.
GAME 2 RECAP
The Blue Dragons saw an early 2-0 lead after three innings turn into an 8-4 deficit after six innings in the second half.
The Dragons trimmed the deficit to 8-5 after seven innings with a Bryce Logan two-out RBI single that scored Jon Jenkins.
The momentum-changing eighth started with a Colby fielding error, walk and three hit batters. A bases-loaded walk to Hunter Gotreaux and bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Cade Baker pulled the Dragons within 8-7.
Logan then gave the Blue Dragons a 9-8 lead with a two-run single. Then McLaughlin had an RBI single, Ryan Henderson drove in two runs with a double and Sterling Sutcliffe followed with an RBI double to cap the eight-run inning, Hutchinson's second-largest single inning of the season for a 13-8 lead.
The back of the Blue Dragons bullpen shut the Trojans down in the final three innings.
Coming into the game with a runner at first and no out in the seventh, Charlie Mosser (1-0) came in and struck out the side. Zane Covey pitched the final two innings, inducing a game-ending 5-4-3 double play in the ninth to finish off the Trojans.
After being limited to one hit in Game 1, the Blue Dragons out-hit Colby 15-8 in Game 2.
Logan had his first career four-hit game, going 4 for 6 with three RBIs and a run scored.
McLaughlin went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs, which moved him into ninth place on the Blue Dragon career RBI list with 113.
Braedyn Sommer was 2 for 7 with two runs. Jenkins was 2 for 2 with an RBI. Henderson and Gotreaux both drove in two runs each.
The Blue Dragons were hit with a season-high six pitches in the game.
GAME 1 RECAP
Colby pitcher Alex Cook threw a one-hit shutout in Game 1 against the Blue Dragons. Cook (8-1) struck out eight and walked one.
Cook took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The no-hit bit was broken up by Sommer, who laced a two-out opposite-field double down the left-field line.
This was the second time this season the Blue Dragons have been held to one hit. No. 1 McLennan held the Dragons to one hit on February 27.
Blue Dragon starting pitcher Jack Whitlock (5-3) worked his third complete game. He allowed nine hits and four earned runs with two strikeouts and two walks.
The Blue Dragons were out-hit 9-1 in the opening game of the series. The Blue Dragons are now 4-5 in games that opened at least a three-game series.