Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Saturday's doubleheader sweep changed the complexion of the series for the Hutchinson Community College baseball team against the Butler Grizzlies.
Freshman catcher Colin Cymbalista launched a walk-off grand slam in game one of Saturday's doubleheader and marked the highlight of the weekend as the Blue Dragons took the series 3-1 over the Grizzlies Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Blue Dragons snapped a four-game losing streak following Thursday's game two win over Butler 11-1 to even the series. With the series victory, the Blue Dragons are now 18-15 overall, 9-7 in the Jayhawk West and are in fourth place ahead of Butler and Cloud County – both 6-6 in the conference.
GAME 4 RECAP
Colin Cymbalista did much of the same in the series finale as he did in game three as the Blue Dragons secured a series win with a game four victory 10-6.
After a solo home run in the top of the first inning, the Blue Dragons answered and jumped on the Grizzlies early with a couple sacrifice flies from Adam Mustow and Jack Gardner. Blake Bradford singled to left in the bottom of the second to score Cooper Wesslund to give the Blue Dragons a 3-1 lead after two complete innings.
Cody Gunderson, who had himself quiet a series as well, singled to left center to score Will Edmuson, and Cymbalista added some early insurance with a two-run double to left center in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Ryan Henderson and Gunderson.
The Grizzlies spotted a two-run fifth inning to trim the Blue Dragon lead to 7-5. In the bottom of the seventh, Mustow scored from third base on a wild pitch to make it 8-5.
The Blue Dragons separated themselves in the bottom of the eighth with a Bradford RBI single and Mustow RBI double. Bradford had two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Mustow had one hit, one RBI and a run scored as well.
Cymbalista went 3-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Gunderson went 3-5 at the plate with one RBI and a run. Henderson went 1-3 and scored two runs. Wesslund scored two runs.
Ethan Giesbrecht pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs, eight hits, and striking out three Grizzly batters to earn the win. Sophomore Brady Beverman got the save and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, throwing five strikeouts and allowing just one run on four hits.
GAME 3 RECAP
After a career day from Cymbalista in game two in El Dorado, the catcher had one of his biggest moments of his collegiate career with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Blue Dragons a 9-5 win in game three.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cooper Wesslund was walked, Christian Powell was walked, and Will Edmunson was hit by a pitch before Cody Gunderson singled to left to score Wesslund. With the bases loaded, Mustow was walked, which scored Powell. The bases were still loaded.
Following a Butler pitching change, Cymabalista saw his first pitch and struck a ball to center field for the game-winning grand slam.
Cymbalista, who hit his first and second collegiate home runs in the series, went 3-4 with three hits and five RBIs and a run scored. Mustow and Cody Gunderson each tallied two RBIs and two runs scored.
Edmunson went 1-2 and scored two runs. Wesslund and Powell each scored a run.
Cole Toureau got the start on the mound and pitched through 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs – three earned – and threw five strikeouts. Ben Dandelet earned the win after entering the game in the top of the seventh inning with the Blue Dragons trailing 5-3. Dandelet pitched two strikeouts and set up the Blue Dragons for a six-run bottom seventh inning. Jacob Hadden pitched the final two outs of the sixth inning, allowing two hits but getting two strikeouts.