HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs continued their hot start to the season, improving to 6-0 with an 8-3 win over the Wichita Black Sox on Monday night at Hobart-Detter Field.
Right-hander Carson Harrell was dominant on the mound for Hutchinson, tossing six shutout innings while allowing just two hits and striking out eight. Camden Cornelius closed the door with three innings of relief, giving up three late runs on four hits while fanning three.
The Monarchs’ offense jumped on Wichita starter Colton Crockett early, scoring in each of the first four innings. Crockett took the loss, surrendering seven runs — six earned — on eight hits over four innings of work.
Hutchinson opened the scoring in the first on a three-run homer by designated hitter Dylan Bell, who launched a fly ball over the right-field wall to bring home Jeter Worthley and JJ Spafford.
The Monarchs padded their lead in the third with a run-scoring double from Jake Knox, then broke things open in the fourth. Tyler Mitchell and JJ Spafford each drove in a run with singles before Bell added another RBI on a grounder that was misplayed at first base, making it 6-0. Jackson Legg capped the frame with an RBI single to center.
Worthley added an RBI single in the seventh to push Hutchinson's lead to 8-0.
The Black Sox finally broke through in the top of the eighth with a two-run triple by Nick Rotola, who then scored on a groundout by John Tointigh to cut the deficit to 8-3. But Cornelius retired the final four batters he faced to preserve the win.
The Monarchs will look to stay undefeated when they travel to Haysville to take on the Aviators in action Tuesday and Wednesday night.
The Monarchs will return home for Cancer Awareness Night at Hobart-Detter on Saturday versus the Great Bend Bat Cats with first pitch at 7pm.