Hays Post Sports
HAYS – The Hays Larks scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to break open a one-run game and beat the Collegiate Roughriders in the opening game of a four-game series at Larks Park.
The Larks (20-4-1, 13-4 RMBL) have won five straight and 10 of their last 11 and increased their lead to five games over Liberal in the Rocky Mountain Baseball League.
Lane Sparks walked, advanced to second on a groundout then scored on a wild pitch to give the Larks a 4-2 lead in the seventh. Jackson Babcock singled and Wilbert Espinal doubled, both scored on a Paul Smith single to round out the scoring.
Trent Baker scored on a groundout in the bottom of the fifth to give the Larks a 3-2 lead.
The Larks grabbed the lead in the third when they scored a pair of runs with two outs off a couple of Roughriders errors. The Roughriders (8-13, 4-6 RMBL) answered with two runs in the fifth.
Brooks Jones and Nolan Wilson combine to pitch 4 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to close out the game. Jones didn’t allow a hit with five strikeouts and two walks over 3 2/3 innings. Wilson gave up a hit but struck out the side in the ninth.
Starter Dalton Campbell (4-1) allowed one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts and four walks over 4 1/3 innings and was awarded the win.
Taber Stokes had three of the Larks nine hits.
DOUBLE DIGIT STRIKEOUTS
The Larks pitchers combined to strikeout out 12 Roughrider batters. It’s the 10th consecutive game and 19th game overall this season in which they’ve fanned 10 or more opponent batters.
UP NEXT
The Larks and Roughriders play game two of their four-game series Friday night at 7:00 p.m. It’s Educators Night with free admission courtesy of the First United Methodist Church, First Care Clinic, Werth Eye Group and Adams Brown.