Hays Post
GERING, Neb. – The Hays Larks saw their season-best 10-game winning streak snapped on Thursday. Western Nebraska scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings then used a walk-off two-run homer in the 11th for a 9-7 win in the completion of Wednesday’s suspended game at Oregon Trail Park Stadium. The Larks (15-3, 11-2 RMBL) defeated the Pioneers (14-10, 6-9 RMBL) 10-2 in Thursday’s regularly scheduled game.
Game 1: Western
Nebraska 9, Hays 7 (11 innings)
The Larks held a 5-1 lead when the game was suspended Wednesday in the top of
the fifth due to rain.
The Larks added another run in the fifth then scored another in the top of the seventh to build a 7-1 lead.
The Pioneers scored two in the seventh then tied the game with four runs in the bottom of the ninth. The Larks committed back-to-back errors with one-out to help fuel the rally. With two outs, the Pioneers used and RBI single and two-run double to tie the game.
A two-out walk followed by a Francisco Laya home run gave the Pioneers the walk-off win.
Houston Russell had four hits and Kaiden Ashton added three.
Aiden Schmidgall (2-1) allowed two runs on two hits over two innings of relief and suffered the loss.
STAT OF THE GAME
The Larks had 15 hits but stranded 13 baserunners. The Larks stole three bases but were caught stealing four times.
Game 2: Hays
10, Western Nebraska 2
Thomas Lyssy doubled to open the fourth then scored on CJ Reid’s groundout to
break a 2-2 tie and give the Larks the lead.
The Larks blew the game open with five in the sixth then two in the seventh. Gage Gilchrist had a one-out RBI double to start the scoring in the decisive fifth inning. CJ Reid later scored on a passed pass then Garrett Gruell added a two-run double. Wilbert Espinal pushed the lead to 8-2 with an RBI single.
Gage Gilchrist doubled then scored on a Thomas Lyssy sacrifice fly in the seventh. Kaiden Ashton drove in the second run with a double.
Starter Dalton Campbell (2-0) allowed two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks and picked up the win.
STAT OF THE GAME
- Six of the Larks 13 hits were doubles. Kaleb Duncan, Kaiden Ashton, Garrett Gruell, Gage Gilchrist, Taber Stokes and Thomas Lyssy all had two-baggers.
- This is the first time the Larks have been walked off by an opponent since losing 4-3 in 10 innings at the Fort Collins Foxes on July 1, 2022.
UP NEXT
The Larks continue their seven-game road trip with the first of two against the Fort Collins Foxes Friday.