BLUE DRAGONS, SAINT SPLIT FIRST TWO GAMES OF FOUR-GAME SET
Hutchinson, CC Sports Information
Sophomore Reed Scott pitched a career-long 6 1-3 innings to pace the Hutchinson Community College baseball team to a Jayhawk West series opening 4-2 victory over Seward County in Game 1 of KJCCC doubleheader on Thursday at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Saints dominated Game 2 with a 13-3 win in eight innings over the Blue Dragons to split the first two games of a four-game set.
Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for 1 and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Brent Gould Field in Liberal. Hutchinson is 15-12 overall and 6-4 in the Jayhawk West. Seward County is 13-18 overall and 4-6 in the league.
GAME 1 RECAP
Making just his second start as a Blue Dragon, Scott worked a strong 6 1-3 innings, being staked to a 5-0 lead after two innings.
The first time around the batting order, Scott retired all nine batters he faced. Seward County broke through with a run on three hits in the fourth and he gave up a run in the sixth before being lifted with one out and runners at second and third.
Scott scattered eight hits and allowed two earned runs, but walked none. Scott had three strikeouts.
Sophomore Brady Beverman came on to throw six pitches for two strikeouts, earning his second save of the season.
Offensively, the Blue Dragons did all the damage needed in a four-run second inning.
With the bases loaded and two out, Cooper Wesslund drew a walk to force Colin Cymbalista in from third with the game's first run. Blake Bradford then laced a three-run double over the head of Seward's right fielder to plate Jack Gardner, Christian Powell and Wesslund to make it 4-0.
The Blue Dragons were out-hit 8-6 and had only one hit after the second inning.
Cymbalista was 2 or 3 with a run scored to lead the Blue Dragons. Will Edmunson was 2 for 3 with a pair of singles. Bradford was 1 for 3 with a double and three RBIs.
GAME 2 RECAP
Leading 3-1 after two innings, the Saints took advantage of eight walks and a pair of hit batsmen to methodically pull away from the Blue Dragons in an eight-inning victory.
Seward County pounded out an opponent season-high 17 hits against eight Blue Dragon pitchers. Starter Sam Ojeda (1-1) was the losing pitcher for the Blue Dragons.
The Blue Dragons were out-hit 17-8.
Extended his hitting streak to eight games going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Blue Dragons cut the Saints lead in the second inning to 3-1 when Gardner singled in Ryan Henderson.
Hutchinson then cut the Seward lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth when Edmunson singled home Wesslund. Edmunson later scored on a wild pitch to pull Hutchinson within three runs.
The Saints then scored seven unanswered, including a five-run eighth inning.