By STEVE CARPENTER - Hutchinson CC Sports Information
EL DORADO – Hunter Gotreaux drove in three runs and Ben McLaughlin added a two-run home run to lead the Hutchinson Community College baseball team to a third-straight Jayhawk West series victory in as many series on Saturday.
Hutchinson defeated Butler 6-4 in Game 1 of the teams' Jayhawk West doubleheader at McDonald Stadium, the Blue Dragons' third-straight win in the series. Hutch swept Butler on Thursday at Hobart-Detter Field. The Grizzlies dominated the final game of the series with a 12-2 seven-inning victory.
The Blue Dragons are now 15-9 overall and leads the Jayhawk West with a 9-3 record. Butler is now 9-6 overall and 7-5 in league play. The Blue Dragons play the Baker University JV on Tuesday as a site to be determined and will play Pratt next week – Thursday in Pratt and Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field.
GAME 1 RECAP
Gotreaux had his career home run and three-RBI game to lead the Blue Dragons in Game 1. His two-run home run in the top of the second to give the Blue Dragons a 4-1 lead. His RBI single in the sixth wound up being a big insurance run. That run at the time game the Blue Dragons a 6-2 lead.
The Grizzlies scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but Tyler Delong shut the door on the Grizzlies for his third save of the season. Luke Hornberger (1-1) earned the pitching win with 3 1-3 innings. He struck out two and allowed six hits and one run.
McLaughlin hit a two-run home run – his fourth of the season – in the top of the first to get the Dragons going. Gotreaux and Will Reetz both had two hits to lead Hutchinson. Both the Dragons and Grizzlies had eight hits each in the game.
GAME 2 RECAP
Butler starter Dylan Ritchie limited the Blue Dragons to two runs and five hits in the final game of the series. Richey struck out six and allowed two earned runs with five hits and two walks.
The only offense in game for the Blue Dragons was a third-inning RBI single from Gotreaux and a leading fourth-inning home run from Austin Callahan, his 10th of the season.
Gotreaux was 2 for 3 to lead Hutchinson. Cade Argo had a double.
Jonah Cox had two home runs and drove in four for Butler.
Four Blue Dragon pitchers gave up 11 hits, 12 runs, nine walks and two hit batsmen.
Ryan Schlotzhauer (1-3) was the losing pitcher.