HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs split a doubleheader against the Kingman Islanders on Wednesday at Hobart-Detter Field. The Monarchs won game one, 6-0, before falling in the night cap, 4-1. Both games were seven inning contests.
The first game was dominated by Monarchs starting pitcher Tucker Timmerman. The righty went six innings of no-hit baseball, striking out five. Camden Cornelius tossed an inning of relief, giving up a hit to lead off the seventh frame to end the no-hitter.
The Monarchs opened the scoring in the second inning on a grand slam over the right field fence from Blake Bradford, the 15th grand slam in program history and first of the summer. Hutchinson added one more in the third and another in the sixth to extend its lead.
Max Buettenback had the lone multi-hit game for the Monarchs, going 2-for-4 at the plate, while Bradford finished 1-for-3 with the four RBI.
The second game belonged to Kingman Islanders starter, Bradley Neill, the Buhler native. Neill went 6.1 innings, striking out seven and allowing four hits. The former Crusader and current HutchCC Blue Dragon retired eight straight Monarchs from the second to the fifth innings. Neill collected the win, his first of the summer for Kingman (5-14).
Jarrett Flaggert led the Monarchs offense in the second game, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while Buettenback went 1-for-3 with a double. Ben Waliczek and Jesus Cruz both had a two-hit game for the Islanders.
The Monarchs win the three-game series against the Islanders, 2-1, and close out the first half of the schedule with a 7-11 record. Hutchinson will have off until next Thursday, July 6, when it will host the Wichita Black Sox to open the second half. The Jayhawk Collegiate League All-Star game will take place on Sunday, July 2 at Al Burns Memorial Field in Great Bend.
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