HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs earned their first win of the season with a 13-3 run-rule over the Wichita Dirtbags in eight innings on Monday at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Monarchs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning, and did so on just one hit.
The Dirtbags answered with a run in the top of both the 4th and 5th inning before finally scoring another run in the top of the sixth inning to make it 3-3.
Hutchinson finally got it going in the bottom of the seventh to score 4 taking advantage of passed balls and timely hitting to build the lead to 7 to 3.
Blake Bradford singled in a run to break the tie and give the Monarchs the lead at 4-3. That advanced Blake Brown to 3rd. Bradford then gets a stolen based setting up another scoring opportunity with Jaden Gustafson coming to bat.
Gustafson hit a ball sharply to the Dirtbags second baseman Mikel Butler, but Butler's throwing error to the plate allowed Brown and Bradford to both score.
In the bottom of the eighth, the wheels came off for the Dirtbags allowing Hutch to score on numerous wild pitches while finally allowing Same Wiese to score the winning final run to make it 13-3.
The Monarchs were out hit by the Dirtbags 11-4 while both teams had two errors each.
The teams will turn around and play Wednesday in Wichita at the Westside Athletic Field at 7 p.m.
Hutchinson (1-2) will return home to Hobart-Detter on Friday, June 7 against the Derby Twins at 7 p.m.