Hays Post
DENVER – The Hays Larks bounced back from their first shoutout of the season with a run-rule win, defeating the Colorado Roughriders 12-1 in seven innings Tuesday at the Regis Baseball Field.
The Larks (18-4, 14-4 RMBL) blew the game open with six runs in the fifth inning then three more in the sixth.
Kaleb Duncan had three of the Larks 14 hits and drove in five runs. Houston Russell added two RBIs for the Larks who finished up their seven-game road trip with a 5-2 record.
The Larks took the lead in the second. Taber Stokes led off the inning with a double then scored on Trent Baker’s groundout. They added a second run in the third. After back-to-back singles from Kaleb Duncan and Garrett Gruell to start the inning then a walk to Wilbert Espinal to load the bases, Duncan later scored on a Houston Russell sacrifice fly. Thomas Lyssy was hit by a pitch to load the bases again but a popup to short and fly ball to center ended the inning.
The Larks pushed the lead to 3-0 with another run in the fourth on a Garrett Gruell triple which scored Trent Baker who opened the inning with a walk.
The Larks first six batters all had hits to open the fifth. Lyssy and Stokes both doubled followed by singles from Gage Gilchrist, Baker, Kaiden Ashton and Duncan. Houston Russell added an RBI single later in the inning.
The Larks used a walk, hit by pitch and single to load the bases in the sixth. Duncan later drove in three runs with a two-out double.
Ismael Cordoba (1-0) gave up just the one run on two hits over five innings and picked up the win.
HIT STREAKS
Houston Russell had a hit to extend his hitting-streak to 12 games. Wilbert Espinal finished 0-for-3 to end his 12-game hit streak.
UP NEXT
The Larks return home to play the Junction City Brigade on July 4 at 7 p.m. at Larks Park. Admission is free courtesy of Pepsi and Wal-Mart.