SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs defeated the Great Bend Bat Cats in the series opener, 10-5 on Saturday evening at Hobart-Detter Field. The win for the Monarchs was the second straight win to start the second half of the season.
HutchCC product Will Edmunson broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with a grand slam off the clubhouse in left field to give the Monarchs a 6-2 lead, marking the third grand slam hit by the Monarchs this summer. Edmunson finished the night going 3-for-5 with five RBI and two stolen bases.
The Bat Cats pulled within 6-4 in the top of the seventh inning to get within striking distance. The Monarchs answered with a run on an RBI single through the left side from Paris Pridgen.
Hutchinson (9-11) added three more runs in the eighth inning, as Austin Coyle, Blake Bradford and Edmunson all scored a run to extend the lead to six, 10-4. Great Bend (17-6) scored one in the top of the ninth inning, but that would be the only damage done.
Justin Smith earned the win for the Monarchs, going five innings, allowing three hits, two runs (one earned), and five strikeouts. Noah Kelley went two innings of relief, as did Carson Cornelius, who earned his third save of the season.
The same two teams will go at it again on Sunday evening at Hobart-Detter Field with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. You can watch the game on Hutch Post, beginning at 5:50 p.m.
Great Bend - 000 110 201 - 5 8 3
Hutchinson - 001 050 13x - 10 11 3
W: Smith (2-0). L: Riley (2-1). HR: Edmunson (Hutch, 3rd in 5th inning).
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