BOWLIN SLAM, 6 RBIS HELP DRAGONS FORCE GAME 3
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Zion Bowlin hit a grand slam and had a career-high six RBIs to lead the Hutchinson Community College baseball team in a must win in Game 2 of the Region VI Tournament opening-round series on Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field.
Facing elimination after Labette's 4-3 victory on Friday, the Blue Dragons forced a decisive third game in the series with a 13-4 victory over the Cardinals to even the series at 1-1.
Leading 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning, Bowlin's RBI single through the left side of the infield was the key in a four-run inning that ultimately gave Hutchinson a 6-1 lead. His two-out double in the fifth scored Zane Schmidt to give the Blue Dragons a 7-1 lead.
After Labette climbed back into the game with three runs in the sixth, the Blue Dragons answered in the seventh with Bowlin delivering the big blow. After Brian Skillman's hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded scored Dylan Nedved, Bowlin launched a 1-0 pitch over the left-field wall for Hutchinson's fourth grand slam of the season and a 12-4 Blue Dragon lead.
Bowlin tied a career high for hits going 3 for 5 with a double and his first career grand slam. He joins Will Reetz, Nedved and Christopher Noble as Hutch players with grand slams this season. Bowlin is the third Blue Dragon this season with at least six RBIs in a game. Nedved had seven RBIs in a single game and Schmidt had six. Bowlin tied for the sixth most RBIs in a single game in team history.
After being held to five hits on Friday in Game 1, the Dragons had 11 hits in Game 2.
Ryan Moritz tied a career high with three RBIs going 2 for 3. He had RBIs singles in the second and third innings. Schmidt broke a 0-for-11slump going 2 for 4 with three runs and one RBI. Max McGuire drove in a run with an RBI single in the second.
Nedved (4-2) earned the pitching victory with six strong innings. He struck out six and allowed seven hits, four runs and walked two.
Brian Skillman earned his first career save with three scoreless innings. He struck out three and walked one with two hits allowed.
The Dragons rolled a pair of Moritz-to-Zach Baxley double plays in the third and seventh innings.
Hutchinson improved to 39-19 while Labette fell to 17-29.