Hays Post
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. – Despite scoring double-figure runs for a third-straight game, the Hays Larks couldn’t overcome five errors and lost 14-10 to the Colorado Rough Riders Sunday afternoon at Everitt Middle School.
The Larks (13-4, 6-2 RMBL) scored five runs in the first two innings but found themselves trailing 11-5 after three. The Larks scored three in the sixth, one in the seventh and a run in the ninth but the Rough Riders scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth to hold on for the victory.
The Larks scored on passed ball and a John Ceccoli two-out single to grab a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Roughriders used a walk, a single and back-to-back doubles to score three in the bottom of the first.
The Larks used back-to-back walks and back-to-back hit batters to tie the game in the second. A sacrifice fly from Damian Ruiz gave the Larks the lead. Garrett Gruell followed with a run-scoring single to push the lead to 5-3.
Colorado scored five in the bottom of the second then three in the third to build an 11-5 lead.
The Larks plated three in the top of the sixth to pull within 11-8. A double-steal with Bryson Evans and first and Luis Garcia at third scored the first run of the inning. Gruell and Ceccoli followed with RBI singles.
The Larks opened the ninth with back-to-back singles but a caught stealing and strikeout hampered the comeback. Trent Baker drove in a run with a double but Weston Valasek grounded out to third to end the game.
Baker, Gruell and Ceccoli all had three hits with Gruell and Ceccoli driving in two runs each.
Starter Carson Jacobs (1-2) allowed eight runs (five earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts and one walk over two innings and suffered the loss.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH
The Larks went 2-2 in their only trip to Colorado this season. Their series finale with the Gameday Angels was rained out Thursday night and will be made up when the Angels come to Hays in July.
UP NEXT
The Larks are off until Wednesday when they continue their road trip in Junction City against the Junction City Brigade.