SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jaden Gustafson collected three hits and drove in a season-high five runs to help lead the Monarchs to a 13-8 win over the Newton Sluggin' Rebels on Monday evening at Hobart-Detter Field.
The game marked the final home game of the 2023 summer for the Monarchs.
Hutchinson (17-16) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by Max Buettenback. Newton answered with a run of their own in the top of the second on an RBI double from Austin Burroughs.
The Sluggin' Rebels tacked on two more in the third to take their first lead of the night, but that didn't last long. Gustafson cleared the bases on a three-run triple to the gap in right field to put the Monarchs in front 4-3.
Newton (10-22) regained the 5-4 lead in the fifth inning following back-to-back hits from Easton Bryant and Tate Lewis. The Monarchs exploded for five in the fifth, highlighted by a pair of doubles from Cooper Harris and Blake Bradford, plus a two-run home run over the center field fence from Gustafson.
The Monarchs added another run in the sixth and three more in the eighth courtesy of Jarrett Flaggert tripling followed by a two-run home run from Bradford.
Newton scored three in the ninth, but too little and too late, as the Sluggin' Rebels dropped its eleventh straight game.
Gustafson finished the night 3-for-4 with a triple, home run and five RBI. Caleb Cotton (2-for-6), Flaggert (2-for-5) and Bradford (2-for-4) all had multi-hit games, as well.
Alec Stanfield earned the win on the mound, going five innings and striking out eight Newton hitters, and walking none. The Monarchs used four pitchers and struck out a season-high 17 and walking just three.
The Monarchs are off tonight before opening a three-game series in Kingman against the Islanders Wednesday through Friday, and then closing out the regular season on Saturday in Derby.
Newton - 012 020 003 - 8 9 2
Hutchinson - 103 051 03x - 13 14 3
W: Stanfield (2-0). L: Chun-Yu (2-2). HR: Gustafson (3rd, in 5th inning), Bradford (2nd, in 8th inning). Time: 3:04. Attendance: 201.