WICHITA, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs erased an early three-run deficit with a pair of explosive innings Monday night, pounding out 17 hits in a 15-5 victory over the Seattle Blackfins in NBC World Series pool play at Eck Stadium.
After falling behind 4-1 in the third inning, the defending NBC World Series champions quickly seized control, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third before breaking the game open with a seven-run fourth.
Jackson Schanuel sparked the Monarchs’ offense, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs. He was one of four Hutchinson hitters to record three-hit games, joining JJ Spafford, Jaden Gustafson and Brice Wallar.
Seattle grabbed the early momentum when Mario Martinez opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning. Hutchinson answered immediately on Gustafson’s sacrifice fly before the Blackfins pushed across three more runs in the third, highlighted by Carson McCurdy’s RBI single and Alex Chamberlain’s two-run double for a 4-1 advantage.
The Monarchs wasted little time responding.
Spafford ignited the comeback with an RBI double down the left-field line. Gustafson followed with a run-scoring double before Schanuel and AJ Mustow each delivered RBI singles as Hutchinson scored four times to move in front 5-4.
One inning later, the Monarchs put the game out of reach.
Hutchinson sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on seven hits in the fourth. Spafford drove in two with a single, Schanuel, Wallar, Mustow and Jacob Knox each added RBI singles, and Owen Rush brought home another run with a groundout as the Monarchs stretched the lead to 12-4.
Cooper Senne earned the win, working five innings while allowing five runs on five hits. The right-hander struck out four and walked three before turning the game over to the bullpen.
Seattle starter Cody Snow was charged with the loss after giving up eight runs, seven earned, over 3 1/3 innings.
Knox and Mustow each finished with two hits as Hutchinson’s balanced lineup produced 17 hits. The Monarchs also turned in a flawless defensive performance, committing no errors, with Mustow handling a team-high eight chances.
Chamberlain drove in two runs for Seattle, while leadoff hitter Patrick Klinkenberg collected two hits.
The victory strengthened Hutchinson’s position in pool play as the Monarchs continued their pursuit of another NBC World Series championship. :::writing