HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs broke open a close game with a four-run third inning and pulled away with a five-run seventh to defeat the Great Bend Bat Cats 12-3 on Tuesday night at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Bat Cats struck first when Andrugh Yee led off the game with a solo home run to center field. Hutchinson answered in the bottom of the first as Brice Wallar drove in the tying run with a groundout.
The Monarchs took control in the third, scoring four times on RBI singles from Dalton Sabathe, Drew Bugner, Carter Hepner and Nash Wray to build a 5-1 advantage.
Great Bend trimmed the deficit in the fifth when Kirby Orth blasted a two-run homer to right field, cutting Hutchinson’s lead to 5-3. The Monarchs, however, quickly regained momentum and put the game out of reach with five runs in the seventh. Wray and JJ Spafford each delivered RBI singles before Jackson Schanuel capped the inning with a three-run homer to left field.
Bradyn McClure earned the victory, allowing three runs — two earned — on six hits over six innings. The right-hander struck out nine and walked one. Daegen Vinduska worked in relief to finish the game.
Brody Curran took the loss for Great Bend after surrendering five runs on six hits over four innings.
Hutchinson pounded out 15 hits, led by Spafford’s 3-for-4 performance. Hepner, Wray, Bugner and Sabathe each added two hits. Schanuel finished 2 for 5 with a game-high three RBIs, while Wray drove in two runs. The Monarchs also showed patience at the plate, drawing seven walks, with Spafford and Jacob Knox collecting two apiece.
Orth accounted for two RBIs with his fifth-inning homer for Great Bend. Yee, Peanut Brazzle, George McCarroll, Chase Kessler, Dylan Sarna and Cesar Chavira each added a hit for the Bat Cats.
The Monarchs and Bat Cats conclude the two-game series Wednesday in Great Bend.