JUNCTION CITY – The Hays Larks closed out their final road trip of the regular season with a 6-4 win over the Junction City Brigade Wednesday night at Rathert Stadium. The Larks scored five of their six runs after the sixth inning to run their winning streak to four games.
The Larks (16-4) scored two in the seventh on a Wyatt Divis single and Cortland Lawson groundout to build a 3-0 lead. Junction City answered with three in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 3-3. The Brigade opened the inning with two straight singles followed by a double, a strikeout the two singles.
The Larks took back the lead for good with two runs in the eighth, scoring on a passed ball and groundout.
Both teams scored in the ninth. The Larks got a two-out single from Zach Henry which scored Grant Schmidt. Jackson Jones drew a leadoff walk for the Brigade then later scored on a sacrifice fly. Junction City had the tying run at second but Jose Velazquez got a groundout to end the game and picked up the save.
Cade Brown (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief with four strikeouts and no walks and picked up the win. Starter Hunter Parker allowed three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks over six innings.
Matt Cavanaugh and Wyatt Divis both had two hits. Divis drove in two runs. Cavanaugh, Brock Lummus and Grant Schmidt all hit doubles.
UP NEXT
The Larks are off until Saturday when they open an key four-game series with the Fort Collins Foxes at Larks Park. The Larks and Foxes are in a virtual tie for first place atop the Rocky Mountain Baseball League.