BLUE DRAGONS DROP PLAINS DISTRICT OPENER TO COWLEY

Diesel Purnell extended his hitting streak to 10 games in the Blue Dragons' 4-2 loss to Cowley on Wednesday in the opening round of the Plains District Tournament at Eck Stadium in Wichita. (Sydney Holzrichter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
Diesel Purnell extended his hitting streak to 10 games in the Blue Dragons' 4-2 loss to Cowley on Wednesday in the opening round of the Plains District Tournament at Eck Stadium in Wichita. (Sydney Holzrichter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)
May 13, 2026
Box Score

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

WICHITA – Cru Huenfeld hit his 23rd home run of the season on Wednesday, but the No. 4-seed Hutchinson Community College baseball team had a tough time generating offense in it Plains District Tournament opening-round matchup with the Cowley Tigers.

Three Cowley pitchers held the Blue Dragons to four hits as Hutchinson fell 3-2 on Thursday night at Eck Stadium.

The Blue Dragons (45-14) will now play Seward County at 1 p.m. Thursday in a first-round elimination game.

BLUE DRAGON BASEBALL
Hutchinson (45-14) vs Seward County (25-37)
Plains District Tournament Elimination Game
When: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Where: Eck Stadium, Wichita
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Video:KJCCC Network, 1:00 p.m.
X: @bluedragonsport

Trailing 1-0 after allowing an unearned run in the top of the first inning, the Blue Dragons took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Huenfeld launched a two-run home run to right field. The home run was his team-high 23rd of the season, which put him into sole possession of second place on the Blue Dragon single-season home run list. Huenfeld also extended his single-season RBI record to 98.

After that, the Blue Dragons were limited to just one hit over the final five innings, but stranded eight runners on base over the final five innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the sixth inning.

Jackson Schanuel was 2 for 2 with a pair of singles and a run scored to lead the Blue Dragons. He reached base in all four plate appearances, walking twice.

Diesel Purnell extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a fifth-inning single.

The Blue Dragons and Tigers had four hits each.

Sophomore Wes Lyerly (8-3) took the loss after 5 2-3 innings with four strikeouts and four walks. Lyerly allowed two hits and three runs. Lyerly retired 10-straight batters at one point.

Freshman relief pitcher Braydon Henry struck out seven batters in 3 1-3 innings. Henry struck out five batters in a row. He allowed two hits and an earned run.