DRAGONS UNLEASH OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT IN HUGE SWEEP
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
PRATT – The Hutchinson Community College bats exploded on Saturday in a crucial Jayhawk West doubleheader sweep of the Pratt Beavers at Stanion Field.
The Blue Dragons combined for 32 runs and 37 with and 19 extra-base hits, including six home runs as Hutchinson run-ruled Pratt 15-2 in five innings in Game 1 and outslugged the Beavers 17-12 in Game 2 to take its seventh-straight season series from the Beavers.
The Dragons are now tied for fourth place in the Jayhawk West with Butler with identical 16-12 records heading into the final week of the regular season. The Blue Dragons will play Dodge City next week, while Butler plays Garden City. The Hutchinson-Dodge City series starts at Cavalier Field in Dodge City Thursday and concludes at Hobart-Detter Field next Saturday.
Hutchinson is now a season-high nine games over .500 at 30-21. The Blue Dragons reach the 30-win plateau for the 28th time in program history and the eighth time in the Ryan Schmidt era.
Several Blue Dragons had big days at the plate in the final two games of the four-game series with the Beavers.
Designated hitter Braedyn Sommer had a huge day going a combined 6 for 10 with three home runs, triple and nine RBIs.
Second baseman Hunter Gotreaux was 6 for 9 with two doubles, home run and six RBIs.
Third baseman Ben McLaughlin homered twice and had three doubles, going 5 for 10 with five RBIs. McLaughlin moved into sole possession of second place on the Blue Dragon career home run list with 29 home runs. He is now tied for ninth with Dylan Nedved for on the career RBI list with 67.
GAME 1 RECAP
The Blue Dragons scored at least two runs in each of their five offensive innings in the first game. Six different Blue Dragon players had at least two hits in the game.
Sommer and McLaughlin, the Dragons' Nos. 1 and 2 hitters in the lineup, were a combined 6 for 9 with six runs and six RBIs.
McLaughlin went 3 for 5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. He had RBI doubles in the first and second innings and a two-run home run in the third inning. Sommer was 3 for 4 with a triple, home run, three runs scored and two RBIs. He had an RBI single in the second and a solo home run in the fourth.
Gotreaux had a game-high five RBIs, going 2 for 3 with three runs scored and a stolen base. Gotreaux launched a three-run home run in Hutchinson's seven-run second for a 9-0 lead. He added a two-run double in the fifth inning.
Jack Torosian was on base in all four plate appearances, going 2 for 2 with two RBIs. Cade Baker was 2 for 2 with a double and RBIs. Bryce Logan drove in two with a bases-loaded hit by pitch and RBI single.
This was the 20th time in program history, the first since scoring 23 last season against Dodge City, the Blue Dragons scored 20 or more runs in a game.
Starting pitcher Chase Torkelson evened his season record at 4-4 with a complete-game performance. He allowed eight hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts and a walk.
GAME 2 RECAP
Sommer followed his big first game with his second multi-home run game of the season and a career-high seven RBIs. He had a grand slam in the second inning and a three-run shot to center field in the seventh inning to finish 3 for 6.
The Blue Dragons reached the 20-hit mark for the first time since a 21-hit game against Pratt on April 22, 2018.
Gotreaux tied a career high for hits, going 4 for 6 with a double, RBI and three runs scored.
Centerfielder Kael Babin tied a career high for hits, going 2 for 5 with a career-high four RBIs. Babin had an RBI single in the second, two-run single in the fifth and RBI single in the ninth.
McLaughlin homers in going 2 for 5 with an RBI. Torosian was 2 for 6 with a double, triple and two runs. Baker went 2 for 3 with three runs and a double with two walks.
The Blue Dragons had three huge innings to build what was an 11-run lead entering the bottom of the ninth. The Dragons scored six runs in the second, four in the fifth and seven runs in the ninth. Pratt scored two runs in each of the first three innings, and then was shut out from the fourth through the eighth before scoring six in the bottom of the ninth.
Brady Beverman (4-1) got the win with 3 2-3 innings of relief work. He allowed four hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking two. Reed Scott had two scoreless innings of relief with a pair of hits and two strikeouts. Kaden Wickersham had to get the final two outs of the ninth. He struck out two.