MIDWEST CITY, Oklahoma – The Hutchinson Community College baseball team’s late rally wasn’t enough as Rose State College scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Blue Dragons 9-6 on Saturday afternoon.
The Blue Dragons trailed 4-2 and 6-3 and tied the game at 6-all with a three-run top of the eighth. But the Raiders took advantage of three walks and a balk in the bottom of the eight to claim the series 2-1.
The Blue Dragons are now 7-5 to start the season. Hutchinson travels to Northern Oklahoma-Enid on Tuesday in a single nine-inning game. Rose State is 12-4.
The Blue Dragons out-hit Rose State 12-10 in the third game of the series.
Sophomore right-fielder Will Edmunson extended his hitting streak to 12 games to start the season by going 2 for 4 with a double, run scored and an RBI. He doubled home a run in the top of the first to give the Dragons an early 1-0 lead.
Freshman shortstop Cooper Wesslund was 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.
Sophomore Braedyn Sommer and Christian Powell both went 2 for 4. Powell doubled home a run in the Dragon eighth inning.
Rose State first baseman Luke Cummins was 4 for 4 with an RBI double, two-run triple and five RBIs.
Six Blue Dragon pitchers walked a combined seven Rose State batters. Cole Toreau (0-3) was the losing pitcher with 1 1-3 innings in relief.
Trailing 6-3 entering the eighth inning, Ryan Henderson and Sommer led off the inning with singles and moved up to second and third on a wild pitch. Jackson Young’s groundout scored Henderson to make it 6-4. Sommer scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-5. After Jack Gardner walked and Powell doubled, Blake Bradford’s groundout scored Gardner tied the game at 6-6.
The Blue Dragons left 10 runners on base.