HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Nash Wray delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday night as the Hutchinson Monarchs outlasted the Kansas Cannons 12-11 in a wild Jayhawk Collegiate League contest at Hobart-Detter Field.
With the score tied 11-11, Wray lined a single to bring home the winning run and cap a back-and-forth game that featured 31 combined hits and five home runs.
The Cannons struck first in the opening inning. Wyatt Reeder tripled and later scored before Zach Makarewich added an RBI groundout to give Kansas a 2-0 advantage.
Hutchinson answered in the second, tying the game on Marcus Gradney's RBI groundout and Dalton Sabathe's run-scoring single.
JJ Spafford put the Monarchs in front in the third with a solo home run to left field, but Kansas pulled even in the fourth on Logan Renken's sacrifice fly.
The Cannons reclaimed the lead with a three-run fifth. Finn Kaiyala doubled home a run, Reeder added another RBI triple and Colton Petersmith contributed a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3.
The Monarchs chipped away in the sixth when Brice Wallar blasted a solo homer to left, then erupted for five runs in the seventh. Michael Barham highlighted the inning with a three-run home run to left, and Gradney added an RBI single as Hutchinson surged ahead 9-6.
Kansas refused to go away. Talan Barraza launched a two-run homer in the eighth to cut the deficit to one before Brady Taylor answered in the bottom half with a two-run shot to right, giving the Monarchs what appeared to be valuable insurance and an 11-8 lead.
The Cannons rallied again in the ninth, tying the game on Petersmith's RBI single and Renken's sacrifice fly before Hutchinson delivered the final blow.
After putting runners aboard in the bottom of the ninth, Wray singled to score the winning run, sending the Monarchs to their second straight victory over the Cannons.
Brice Wallar earned the victory in relief, tossing two-thirds of a scoreless inning. Jackson Witt took the loss for Kansas after allowing the winning run in one-third of an inning. Monarchs starter Dayton Hicks worked seven innings, allowing six runs — five earned — on 10 hits while striking out three.
Hutchinson's offense pounded out 17 hits. Barham drove in a team-high three runs while finishing 2-for-3. Spafford, Wallar and Sabathe each collected three hits, while Drew Bugner and Taylor added two hits apiece. The Monarchs also stole four bases and turned two double plays.
The Cannons finished with 14 hits. Petersmith drove in three runs, while Reeder went 3-for-5 with two triples. Kaiyala and Chase Davidson each added multiple hits for the Cannons, who turned three double plays.
The Monarchs (14-6) will return to Hobart-Detter Field on Thursday to host the Derby Twins.