HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Brayden McClure delivered a quality start on the mound and the Hutchinson Monarchs offense came alive early as Hutchinson earned a 10-5 win over the Kansas Cannons at Hobart-Detter Field on Sunday night.
McClure went seven innings, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out three and walking two. The victory moved the Monarchs to 15-5 on the season.
Hutchinson scored in each of the first two innings to build a 3-0 lead. Jeter Worthley and Jake Gutierrez drew back-to-back walks to open the bottom of the first, and both would eventually come around to score. A sacrifice fly from Blake Bradford and an RBI double by Jake Knox helped pace the early offense.
After the Cannons closed the gap to 3-2 by the fourth, Hutchinson responded with a big sixth inning. The Monarchs plated five runs, highlighted by another sacrifice fly from AJ Mustow and RBI singles from Tyson Vassart and Omare Cross. The Monarchs tacked on a final run in the seventh on a Bradford RBI double to push the lead to 10-4.
The Cannons managed one more run in the eighth, but reliever Drew Vinduska closed the door with two scoreless innings to secure the win.
The Cannons were led by Hunter Alvord, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Starting pitcher Gavin Hoffman took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks across two innings.
The Monarchs have Monday off before hitting the road Tuesday for a rematch with the Cannons in Augusta. Hutchinson will return home later this week for more Sunflower Collegiate League action including a rescheduled game on Saturday night at home versus the Kingman Islanders and will resume the suspended game from last week versus the Wichita Wildcats that had to be rescheduled due to weather. That game will resume on Monday, July 7th.