HAYS – Austen Jaslove’s grand slam highlighted a five-run eighth inning and the Hays Larks pull away late to beat the Dodge City A’s 10-3 in their Rocky Mountain Baseball League opener Tuesday night at Larks Park.
The Larks (4-1, 1-0 RMBL) held a slim 3-2 lead when they scored two in the seventh on a Jack Torosian single and Tyler Larue sacrifice fly.
Palmer Hutchison started the big eighth inning with a one-out double. Hunter Rosson, Leo Jiminian and Tanner Rice all followed with walks and all scored on Jaslove’s homer to left.
Dodge City’s leadoff batter Kyle Morrel homered off Larks starter Kaleb Meredith to open the game.
The Larks tied it in the second on a Larue two-out single which scored Jaslove.
The A’s, who are in their first season on the RMBL, got a home run from Tyler Cotto in the second to retake the lead only to see the Larks tie it up in the bottom of the inning on a Palmer Hutchison single which scored Dylan Dreiling.
The Larks took the lead for good in the third when Brady Evans reached on an error which drove in Torosian from third.
The A’s would add a run in the top of the ninth on a Cotto single.
Meredith allowed two runs on three hits over three innings but did not figure in the decision. Luke ter Beek pitched two scoreless innings of relief and picked up the win.
The Larks went 4-0 on their season-opening homestand. They now head to Colorado for four straight beginning Friday at the Gameday Saints.