SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
DERBY, Kan. — The Hutchinson Salthawks used a strong outing from the bullpen to salvage a split with the Derby Panthers on Wednesday afternoon, 3-2.
The win came 19 hours after play had been suspended in the fourth inning on Tuesday night, and Hutchinson leading 2-0. The Salthawks wanted to resume play, and that required a return trip to Derby on Wednesday.
The Panthers scratched across two runs in the bottom of the fourth after play resumed to tie the game up at two apiece.
Hutchinson (3-15) sophomore Carter Morgan led the fifth inning off with a walk, and then would steal second base. A few pitches later Morgan would be caught in a pickle between second and third. Morgan would draw a throw from Derby (12-8) pitcher Caden Riojas, after a few throws between Panther infielders, Morgan was still going back-and-forth between second and third base. An errant throw to third during the rundown would go out of play and score Morgan via the two-base error for the ball going out of play.
The run by Morgan would be the difference maker, as the Salthawks bullpen came through clutch in the final three innings. After Landon Parks got out of a jam in the fifth unscathed, where the Panthers had runners at second and third, Jack Davis came in relief to start the sixth.
Davis tossed two shutout innings in the sixth and seventh, retiring all six batters he faced. Derby, down to it's final out had Ryan Pierce at the plate with the bases empty. On a 3-2 pitch, Davis threw a fast ball on the outside corner that froze Pierce to end the game.
The Salthawks will host Salina Central on Thursday afternoon at Hobart-Detter Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be available to watch and listen on Hutch Post with Sean Boston.
GAME 1
Hutchinson 105 500 00 - 11 9 6
Derby 070 211 01 - 12 6 3
W: Caden Riojas. L: Carter Morgan. Time: 4:46 (1:51 weather delay).
GAME 2
Hutchinson 002 010 0 - 3 4 2
Derby 000 200 0 - 2 3 3
W: Jack Davis. L: Caden Riojas. Time: 1:49.
CLICK HERE to download the Hutch Post mobile app.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.