DRAGONS RALLY TO WIN GAME 1, SWEEP RAVENS
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
The Hutchinson Community College baseball team rallied from four runs down to take Game 1 and then Sam Ojeda and Jackson Blue put the clamps on Coffeyville's offense in the Blue Dragons doubleheader sweep to start a four-game series on Wednesday at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Blue Dragons scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth and held on for a 7-6 Game 1 victory in a series that started a day earlier than regularly scheduled because of potential poor weather on Thursday. The Dragons had a combined five RBIs from nine-hole hitter Christian Powell and leadoff batter Blake Bradford as the Dragons defeated the Red Ravens 8-2 in Game 2.
The Dragons improved to 9-6 and lead the four-game series over Coffeyville (8-7). Games 3 and 4 will be played at 1 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Walter Johnson Park in Coffeyville.
GAME 1 RECAP
Coffeyville got to Blue Dragon starter Gus McKay for six runs over the first three innings and built a 6-2 lead.
Hutchinson started chipping away with two runs in the fourth on an RBI single by Ryan Henderson and RBI groundout from Powell. Coffeyville added a run in the sixth to go up 7-4.
The sixth-inning rally started with a leadoff single from Henderson and a walk to Powell. Bradford singled home Henderson to cut the deficit to two. With runners at first and second with no out, Cooper Wesslund dropped down a bunt, but a throwing error allowed Powell to score and the Dragons cut the Coffeyville lead to 6-5.
Looking to extend his hitting streak in his fourth plate appearance, Will Edmunson roped a double to center field that scored two and gave the Dragons a 7-6 lead. Edmunson extended his hitting streak to start the season to 14 games.
Reed Scott entered the game in the ninth on the mound for the Blue Dragons. An error and a hit batter eventually put Coffeyville runners at second and third with two out. Scott earned his first save of the season, getting leadoff hitter Jack Bell to ground out first Henderson at first base and complete the comeback.
Ben Dandelet (2-2) came out of the bullpen to earn the victory. Dandelet worked three innings and allowed one run on three hits with four strikeout and one walk.
Bradford went 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs. Jon Davis went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Henderson was 2 for 3 with a run and RBI. Edmunson and Bradford had two RBIs each.
GAME 2 RECAP
Ojeda's second start for the Blue Dragons was solid with five shutout innings. Ojeda struck out a season-high seven and allowed two runs on four hits. He allowed just four baserunners over the first five innings with only one runner reaching third base.
Ojeda's only jam came in the sixth. With a runner on, Coffeyville's Drake Unrein skied a flyball to right that was lost in the cloudless sky. Unrein tripled in a run to cut the Dragon lead to 2-1. Blue came in to pitch and Coffeyville tied the game with a single.
The Blue Dragons immediately responded with a two-out, two-run double by Bradford that scored Henderson and Powell for a 4-2 lead. The Dragons scored a pair of unearned runs in the seven to go up 6-2. Bradford had an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch for an 8-2 lead.
Blue (1-0) earned the victory on the mound with 3 1-3 innings of relief work. He struck out six while allowing two hits and two walks. Ojeda was strong in a no-decision start, going 5 2-3 innings with four hits and two earned runs allowed. He struck out seven and walked one.
Offensively, the Dragons out-hit Coffeyville 10-6.
Bradford went 3 for 4 with two doubles a run scored and three RBIs. Powell was 2 for 3 with a double, two runs and two RBIs.
Edmunson extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a 2 for 5 performance. Edmunson is now tied with Austin Callahan for the seventh-longest hitting streak in Blue Dragon history.
Max Childress had an RBI single in the seventh, going 1 for 4.