WICHITA, Kan. — Drew Bugner delivered a breakout offensive performance Saturday night, driving in four runs to lead the Hutchinson Monarchs to a 10-5 victory over TPA Stix in NBC World Series play.
Bugner finished 3 for 5 with a triple, double and single, helping the Monarchs improve to 1-1 in the tournament. He sparked Hutchinson’s offense with an RBI triple in the second inning, added a two-run double in the fourth to put the Monarchs back in front, and capped his night with an RBI single during a decisive five-run fifth inning.
TPA Stix struck first on Tanner Carson’s sacrifice fly in the opening inning before Hutchinson answered with two runs in the second. Marcus Gradney doubled home the tying run, and Bugner followed with a run-scoring triple to give the Monarchs a 2-1 lead.
The Stix regained the advantage in the third when Connor Sanderson doubled home a run and Kolby Mills followed with an RBI single for a 3-2 edge. The lead was short-lived, however, as Bugner’s two-run double in the fourth put Hutchinson back on top for good.
The Monarchs broke the game open in the fifth, scoring five runs on five hits. Brice Wallar started the rally with an RBI single before Dalton Sabathe lined a two-run single. Gradney added an RBI double, and Bugner capped the inning with another run-scoring hit as Hutchinson stretched its lead to 9-3.
Bradyn McClure earned the victory after allowing three runs on eight hits over five innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked one. Daegen Vinduska handled the relief work to preserve the win.
Hutchinson pounded out 16 hits. Bugner and Jaden Gustafson each collected three hits, while Gradney, Sabathe and JJ Spafford added two apiece. The Monarchs also played flawless defense, committing no errors, with AJ Mustow handling 10 defensive chances.
TPA Stix finished with 11 hits, led by Aiden LeMasters and Levi Risenhoover, who each had two. Risenhoover hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to account for the game’s final runs.
The Monarchs continue NBC World Series play Monday against the Seattle Blackfins.