WICHITA, Kan. — Hutchinson and Campus split a doubleheader Tuesday at Plagens-Carpenter Park, as the Colts rolled to a run-rule win in the opener before the Salthawks answered with a 5-0 shutout in Game 2.
Campus (6-6) took Game 1, 12-2, in six innings, but Hutchinson bounced back behind a strong start from Brodie McCuan to earn the split and move to 2-14 on the season.
The Salthawks will return home Friday to host Salina South at Hobart-Detter Field.
Hutchinson grabbed the early lead in the opener when Landon Haugsness reached on a dropped third strike and later scored on a Campus error in the top of the first. The Salthawks added another run in the second when McCuan doubled and later came home on a steal of home to make it 2-1.
But Campus quickly took control.
After Donovan Simmons tied the game with a solo homer in the second, the Colts broke it open with a four-run inning, highlighted by Jordan Gentry’s RBI groundout and Jaxson Morgan’s two-run single to take a 6-2 lead.
Campus kept adding on. Owen Glamann doubled home a run in the third before Gentry delivered a two-run single later in the inning to stretch the lead to 9-2. The Colts closed it out with three more runs in the sixth, including a two-run single from Rigley Hephner and an RBI single by Glamann.
Glamann led Campus in Game 1 by going 3 for 3 with a home run, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Morgan added two hits and three RBIs, while Gentry drove in three runs.
Hutchinson managed five hits in the opener, with McCuan collecting a double and Merrick Brotzman adding two singles. Gabe Valadez, Kam Wilson, Mello Green and GeVaugn Embers combined on the mound.
The Salthawks turned the momentum around in the nightcap.
Hutchinson struck for three runs in the first inning, taking advantage of early wildness from Campus starter Trace Van Asdale. Oak Williams scored the first run on an Eli Atha fielder’s choice before Merrick Brotzman lined a two-run single to center to plate Atha and Haugsness for a 3-0 lead.
The Salthawks added another run in the second when Williams singled, stole second and scored on Haugsness’ RBI single to left, then tacked on one more in the seventh when McCuan singled home Williams after another Campus error put the leadoff man aboard.
That was more than enough support for McCuan.
McCuan tossed 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out seven and walking four to earn the win. JuJu Lyons came on to record the final out as Hutchinson blanked Campus in the second game.
Campus threatened a few times, putting runners on in the first and fourth innings and getting the leadoff man aboard in the fifth, but Hutchinson worked out of trouble each time and never allowed a run to cross.
Brotzman finished 2 for 2 with two RBIs in Game 2, while McCuan went 2 for 3 with an RBI and scored the win on the mound. Williams scored three times and reached base three times, while Haugsness added an RBI and a sacrifice bunt.
Hutchinson finished with eight hits in the second game after being limited to five in the opener, and the Salthawks also tightened up defensively after committing three errors in Game 1.