By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
HUTCHINSON - The Hays Larks were shaky defensively and it was too much to overcome as they lost 6-3 to the Seattle (WA) Studs Saturday night at in the NBC World Series at Hobart-Detter Field.
The Larks (35-9) committed three errors in the game which ended around 1 a.m. after morning rains pushed the start of the tournament back.
Seattle (23-14) used three straight singles and a throwing error to score three runs in the bottom of the second. They added a run in the bottom of the fourth then scored two without getting a hit in the fifth to push the lead to 6-2.
The Larks loaded the bases but failed to score in the third but tallied two in the fourth. Ben McLaughlin, who opened the inning with a walk, scored on a wild pitch. Jackson Halter later singled to right which scored Dylan Dreiling.
Hays had their chances late but stranded runners at second and third in the seventh and eighth innings, scoring only one run in the eighth on a Brady Evans groundout.
Starter Cade Brown (2-1) allowed three runs (one earned) on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks and suffered the loss. Hunter Parker allowed three runs (two earned) on on hit in an inning of relief. Caden Hare, Sam Hendon and Ben McLoaghlin combined for 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Seattle starter Brice Foster (3-0) allowed two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and three walks over six innings and picked up the win for the Studs to moved to 2-0 in pool play. Former Missouri Western standout Roy Robles pitched three innings of relief and allowed one run with five strikeouts and two walks for his first save of the summer.
WINNER ADVANCES
The Larks fall to 1-1 and pool play and will face the Dallas Lonestar Kraken to close out pool play Monday at 6:00 p.m. at Wichita State's Eck Stadium. The Kraken are also 1-1 in pool play after a 16-7, seven inning win over the Austin Shockers earlier Saturday.
The winner of Monday's game advances to single-elimination bracket play which begins Wednesday with the quarterfinals.
You can hear Monday's game on 96.9, KFIX.