Hutchpost
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs stormed back with a seven-run eighth inning to defeat the Derby Twins 8-5 on Monday night at Hobart-Detter Field, remaining unbeaten on the young season.
Trailing 5-2 entering the bottom of the eighth, Hutchinson (3-0) strung together five hits after Alex Mustow hammered a two-run shot into the dark of the night to center. That cut the gap to 5-3 Derby, but the Monarchs were not done. Hutchinson plated more capped by a two-run single from Blake Bradford, to flip the game on its head and hand Derby (1-2) a stinging loss.
Aiden Sowers earned the win in relief for the Monarchs, while Mitchell Johnson closed the door in the ninth for the save. Ryan Koob was tagged with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead runs in the eighth.
As previously noted, Alex Mustow sparked the comeback with his second home run of the night, a two-run shot to center that trimmed Derby’s lead to 5-3. Moments later, Jaxon Herrmann and Jace Spafford delivered clutch RBI singles to tie the game and then push Hutchinson ahead.
After an RBI triple by Dane Bugner and Bradford’s two-run knock, the Monarchs led 8-5, erasing what had been a frustrating night against the Twins’ pitching.
Derby built a 5-1 lead behind timely hitting and three runs off wild pitches, including one that scored Kyle Sheldon in the eighth. The Twins also got an RBI triple from Jake Lindahl and run-scoring singles from Cooper Richards and Nick Allison.
Mustow opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning but was even bigger in the eighth, igniting the crowd and his teammates with his second long ball of the night.
Hutchinson goes on the road as the same two teams match up at Panther field in Derby Tuesday, night. Derby looks to regroup in the series finale. That game should be available to view on the Derby YouTube Channel.
The Monarchs will return home on Thursday to host the Kansas Canons at 7pm on ONEOK night at the ball park.