BLUE DRAGONS RALLY FOR SPLIT AT COLBY

Ryan Henderson hits his career 20th home run in Game 1 and drives in four runs in an 8-3 victory in Game 2 over Colby on Thursday afternoon to lead the Blue Dragon baseball team. (Andrew Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

May 4, 2023

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

COLBY – After being walked off in extra innings in Game 1 on Thursday, the Hutchinson Community College baseball team jumped out fast in Game 2 to earn a Jayhawk West split in the first two games of a four-game series with the Colby Trojans.

Justin Smith tossed five strong innings while Ryan Henderson and A.J. Mustow combined for seven RBIs as Hutchinson defeated Colby 8-3 in Game 1. The Blue Dragons scored a run in the seventh to force extra innings in Game 1, but lost 6-5 in nine innings in Game 1.

The Blue Dragons (28-26, 16-14) and Trojans (14-37, 6-24) play Games 3 and 4 of the final series of the regular season at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Hobart-Detter Field. Sophomore Recognition ceremonies will take place between games.

GAME 2 RECAP
After being limited to five hits in the first game, the Blue Dragons scored four runs in their first two at-bats in the second game.

Mustow hit a two-run triple in Hutchinson's three-run first inning. Max Childress added an RBI single in the top of the second that gave the Dragons a 4-0 lead.

Smith allowed single runs in the second and third innings to pull Colby within 4-2. But the Blue Dragons answered with back-to-back sacrifice flies from Mustow and Henderson t make it 6-2 after five innings. Henderson ripped a two-run single in the seventh for an 8-3 lead.

Will Edmunson went 3 for 3 with three runs scored. Henderson was 2 for 4 with four RBIs. Blake Bradford went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Mustow was 1 for 3, but he had three RBIs.

Smith scattered six hits over five innings. He allowed two earned runs with one walk and he struck out six.

Kaden Wickersham allowed a run in the sixth and Brady Beverman got three flyball outs in a perfect seventh inning.

GAME 1 RECAP
The Blue Dragons rallied twice in the series opener.

Trailing 3-1 entering the sixth inning, Henderson hit a game-tying two-run home run, his 10th of the season, in the sixth inning. Then down 4-3 in the seventh, the Dragons tied the game when Cody Gunderson's sacrifice fly to right scored Christian Powell, knotting the score at 4-all.

After a scoreless eighth inning, Colby walked off with the victory when Gavin Shary singled home Lucas Vincent with the game-winning run.

Edmunson went 2 for 3 to lead Hutchinson, which had five hits. Henderson, Childress and Powell had the other hits, all singles.

Reed Scott (3-4) took the loss with 3 1-3 innings of relief work. He allowed four hits and two runs. Sam Ojeda started and worked the first five innings. He allowed six hits and three runs with six strikeouts and one walk.

Henderson's home run was the 20th of his career. He is now the 16th Blue Dragon in program history with at least 20 career home runs.