HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs dropped their final game of the Western Plains Diamond Classic Saturday 8-5 to Manhattan and finished the tournament 2-2.
TMP got down early but tied the game midway through before Manhattan scored three times in the top of the ninth for the 8-5 victory.
Manhattan got the early jump on the Monarchs scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.
But TMP starter Caden Dinkel settled in and allowed just two more runs, for a total of five runs, on 10 hits with five strikeouts in eight total innings. He did not factor into the decision.
Meanwhile the Monarchs were able to chip away at the Indians lead.
Down 5-0 the Monarchs scored three times in the bottom of the third inning.
TMP loaded the bases with back-to-back singles and a walk and then scored on a wild pitch and an Adler Brown RBI single making it 5-2. Logan Baalmann added an RBI single of his own cutting the Manhattan lead to 5-3.
TMP scored a run on an error in the fifth and a Baalmann double in the seventh, tying the game at five.
After both teams threatened to score, but came up empty, in the eighth inning Manhattan started the ninth with back-to-back walks and then with one out they scored on an error. They added two more runs on back-to-back fielder’s choices for an 8-5 lead.
The Monarchs were retired in order in the ninth as they finish 2-2 at the Diamond Classic.
Logan Baalmann collected two hits and drove in two runs for the Monarchs.
Issac Purinton suffered the loss. He allowed three runs, two unearned, without allowing a hit, with three walks and two strikeouts in the ninth inning.