GREAT BEND, — The Hutchinson Monarchs couldn’t keep pace with the Great Bend Bat Cats on Wednesday night, falling 11-5 after the hosts broke open a close game with a five-run seventh inning.
Hutchinson grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when a wild pitch allowed a run to score. The Monarchs remained within striking distance before Great Bend seized momentum in the fifth.
The Bat Cats took a 4-3 lead when Kirby Orth blasted a two-run home run to left field, and another run scored on a Monarchs error.
Dayton Hicks started for Hutchinson, allowing four runs — three earned — on 10 hits over five innings. The right-hander struck out two and walked one.
Great Bend starter Mason Murphy kept the Monarchs in check, striking out 11 over six innings while surrendering three runs, two earned, on six hits with two walks.
Jackson Schanuel drove in two runs to lead the Monarchs’ offense, while No. 9 hitter Nash Wray collected two hits in four at-bats. Hutchinson also turned one double play.
The Bat Cats finished with 17 hits. Leadoff hitter TJ Shaw Jr. went 4 for 5 and stole two bases, helping spark an aggressive offense that swiped five bases overall. Orth drove in five runs, including his pivotal two-run homer. Andrugh Yee, Peanut Brazzle and George McCarroll each added multiple hits for Great Bend.
The Monarchs return home Friday to host the Newton Rebels.