Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Zion Bowlin's infield single against a drawn-in infield capped a wild ninth inning as the Hutchinson Community College baseball team earned its fourth walk-off victory of the season.
Bowlin's single scored Ryan Moritz with the game-winner and the Blue Dragons completing a ninth-inning rally to defeat the Barton Cougars 3-2 in a non-league midweek matchup at Hobart-Detter Field.
CLICK FOR RILEY METZGER'S DIVING CATCH IN 7TH INNING
The Blue Dragons improve to 32-16 overall, while Barton falls to 29-18. Hutch now turns its attention to this weekend's Jayhawk West series with Colby – the first two games are at Colby on Thursday and Games 3 and 4 are at Hobart-Detter Field on Saturday. Hutchinson and Colby are tied for first place in the Jayhawk West.
Hutch and Barton combined for one unearned run through the first eight innings. Riley Metzger scored on an errant pickoff attempt of Ryan Moritz at first base. Hutch led 1-0 after two innings.
That lead stood until the ninth. The Cougars, who had three hits in the first eight innings, had three doubles in the ninth. Designated hitter Carson Zenger doubled home Harrison Denk and the scored on Andrew Stewart's double to give Barton a 2-1 lead.
Hutch's rally started with a Dylan Nedved single. One out later, Nedved moved up to second on a wild pitch and Moritz's collected his third hit of the game, an opposite-field double to left-center to tie the game at 2. Pinch-hitter Christopher Noble was intentionally walked. After another wild pitch, Bowlin chopped a 2-2 pitch to short. Stewart couldn't field the short hop and Moritz scored the game winner.
Moritz went 3 for 4 to lead Hutchinson's eight hit attack. He scored one run and drove in one. Zach Baxley was 2 for 4. Metzger, Nedved and Bowlin also had hits.
Brian Skillman tossed a season-high five innings. He allowed two hits and no runs while striking out four and walking two.
Dawson Linder worked two scoreless innings and got some defensive help with an all-out diving catch by Metzger in left field. Cade Fenton worked a scoreless ninth.
Matt Hopkins (2-1) earned the pitching win, pitching the final two-thirds inning.
Five Blue Dragon pitchers held Barton to six total hits.