BLUE DRAGONS WALK OFF, WIN SERIES OVER BUTLER
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Saturday's doubleheader sweep changed the complexion of the series for the Hutchinson Community College baseball team against the Butler Grizzlies.
Freshman catcher Colin Cymbalista launched a walk-off grand slam in game one of Saturday's doubleheader and marked the highlight of the weekend as the Blue Dragons took the series 3-1 over the Grizzlies Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Blue Dragons snapped a four-game losing streak following Thursday's game two win over Butler 11-1 to even the series. With the series victory, the Blue Dragons are now 18-15 overall, 9-7 in the Jayhawk West and are in fourth place ahead of Butler and Cloud County – both 6-6 in the conference.
GAME 4 RECAP
Colin Cymbalista did much of the same in the series finale as he did in game three as the Blue Dragons secured a series win with a game four victory 10-6.
After a solo home run in the top of the first inning, the Blue Dragons answered and jumped on the Grizzlies early with a couple sacrifice flies from Adam Mustow and Jack Gardner. Blake Bradford singled to left in the bottom of the second to score Cooper Wesslund to give the Blue Dragons a 3-1 lead after two complete innings.
Cody Gunderson, who had himself quiet a series as well, singled to left center to score Will Edmuson, and Cymbalista added some early insurance with a two-run double to left center in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Ryan Henderson and Gunderson.
The Grizzlies spotted a two-run fifth inning to trim the Blue Dragon lead to 7-5. In the bottom of the seventh, Mustow scored from third base on a wild pitch to make it 8-5.
The Blue Dragons separated themselves in the bottom of the eighth with a Bradford RBI single and Mustow RBI double. Bradford had two hits, two RBIs and a run scored. Mustow had one hit, one RBI and a run scored as well.
Cymbalista went 3-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Gunderson went 3-5 at the plate with one RBI and a run. Henderson went 1-3 and scored two runs. Wesslund scored two runs.
Ethan Giesbrecht pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed four runs, eight hits, and striking out three Grizzly batters to earn the win. Sophomore Brady Beverman got the save and pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, throwing five strikeouts and allowing just one run on four hits.
GAME 3 RECAP
After a career day from Cymbalista in game two in El Dorado, the catcher had one of his biggest moments of his collegiate career with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Blue Dragons a 9-5 win in game three.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cooper Wesslund was walked, Christian Powell was walked, and Will Edmunson was hit by a pitch before Cody Gunderson singled to left to score Wesslund. With the bases loaded, Mustow was walked, which scored Powell. The bases were still loaded.
Following a Butler pitching change, Cymabalista saw his first pitch and struck a ball to center field for the game-winning grand slam.
Cymbalista, who hit his first and second collegiate home runs in the series, went 3-4 with three hits and five RBIs and a run scored. Mustow and Cody Gunderson each tallied two RBIs and two runs scored.
Edmunson went 1-2 and scored two runs. Wesslund and Powell each scored a run.
Cole Toureau got the start on the mound and pitched through 5 1/3 innings, giving up five runs – three earned – and threw five strikeouts. Ben Dandelet earned the win after entering the game in the top of the seventh inning with the Blue Dragons trailing 5-3. Dandelet pitched two strikeouts and set up the Blue Dragons for a six-run bottom seventh inning. Jacob Hadden pitched the final two outs of the sixth inning, allowing two hits but getting two strikeouts.