CYMBALISTA HITS COMBINED 5 HRS; DRAGON SNAP 9-GAME SKID TO COWLEY
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
Freshman Colin Cymbalista became the fourth Hutchinson Community College baseball player in program history to hit three home runs in one game as the Blue Dragons snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Cowley Tigers, winning Game 2 of a four-game series 18-12 Thursday at Hobart-Detter Field.
Cowley won the series opener 7-6 earlier on Thursday.
The Blue Dragons returned to the .500 mark at 20-20. Hutchinson's Game 2 victory snapped an 11-game winning streak for Cowley, which is now 25-12. Games 3 and 4 of the series will be on Saturday in Arkansas City.
The last time the Blue Dragons defeated the Tigers was a 7-3 victory in 2017.
Hutchinson combined to hit 10 home runs in the doubleheader, five in each game. The Blue Dragons had season highs in Game 2 in runs scored (18), hits (19), RBIs (17) and total bases (37), the Dragons tied season highs with five home runs and six batters being hit with pitches.
Cymbalista led the Blue Dragon power surge, going a combined 6 for 9 with five home runs a double and 10 RBIs.
Serving as Hutchinson's designated hitter in Game 2, Cymbalista joined Michael Helman (2016), Zane Schmidt (2018) and Ben McLaughlin (2021) as the only four players in Blue Dragon history in hit three home runs in a single game.
Cymbalista was 4 for 5 with three homers a double and a career-high eight RBIs. Cymbalista broke the Blue Dragon single-game record for total bases with 14 and tied Sterling Sutcliffe for the second-most RBIs in a single game.
Cymbalista hit a three-run home run in the second inning that gave Hutchinson a 4-3 lead. The Blue Dragons freshman hit two-run double in the third that helped the Dragons reclaim the lead at 7-5. After being hit by a pitch in the fifth, Cymbalista hit a solo home run in the sixth and closed out the day with a long two-run home run in the eighth inning.
GAME 2 RECAP
Besides Cymbalista, several other Blue Dragons had huge games in their single-game-best offensive output.
Blake Bradford had a career-high four hits, going 4 for 6 with two runs scored and an RBI. Will Edmunson was 3 for 3 with a homer, double, three runs and two RBIs. Edmunson reached base in 5 of 6 plate appearances and the only time he didn't was a sacrifice fly to score a run.
A.J. Mustow and Cooper Wesslund had two hits each. Cody Gunderson also homered and drove in a pair of runs. Jack Gardner had two RBIs.
Michael Uhler (1-1) earned his first victory of the season with 3 1-3 innings of relief work. He allowed four hits and three earned runs. Justin Smith worked the final 2 2-3 inning. San Ojeda started and allowed seven his and five runs in three innings.
The five home runs in Game 2 were the third time this season the Dragons have five home runs in a game.
GAME 1 RECAP
Cowley had to overcome five solo Blue Dragon home runs in the first game to earn a one-run victory. Tied at 5-all entering the seventh, Cowley leadoff hitter Ty Hammack hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh to take the lead.
Cymbalista led the Dragons going 2 for 4 with two solo homers and a pair of RBIs. Cymbalista homered in the first and fifth innings.
Gunderson was 2 for 4 with a homer and double. His two-out RBI double down the left-field line tied the game at 5-all. He homered in the seventh to pull Hutchinson within 6-5.
Ryan Henderson and Gardner both hit home runs.
The Blue Dragons were out-hit 10-9.
Brady Beverman (1-2) suffered the loss after working the final two innings. He allowed two hits and two runs.
Reed Scott started and worked just the first inning. Derrick Johnson, Kaden Wickersham and Bradley Neill all pitched in relief.