PARKER, Colo. – There was some Larks Magic Monday night in Colorado. Trailing 11-1 after three innings, the Larks rallied for an 18-16 win in 12 innings over the Gameday Saints.
The Larks (6-1, 3-1 RMBL) struck first with a run in the top of the second when Core Jackson’s double scored Zach Henry. The Saints (3-3) answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning then added five in the third for the 11-1 lead.
The Larks started the comeback with a run in the fourth when another Core Jackson double scored Leo Jiminian. They would add three runs in the top of the fifth on a Brady Evans home run and Palmer Hutchison two-run double to cut the gap to 11-5.
The Saints added two in the bottom of the fifth to expand their lead to 13-5 where it would stay until the seventh when the Larks plated five. Zach Henry’s single scored Cam Pehrson with the first run. Core Jackson’s third double of the game drove in two. Grant Lung also doubled which drove in two to make it 13-10.
The Saints answered with two in the bottom of the seventh to build their lead back to 15-10.
Leo Jiminian pulled the Larks within two with a three-run homer in the top of the eighth. They would get the game tied in the top of the ninth on a Cam Pehrson RBI single and Grant Schmidt sacrifice fly.
The Larks took their first lead of the game in the 11th on a Grant Schmidt RBI single but the Saints took advantage of two walks and an error to toe the game in the bottom of the inning.
The Larks took the lead for good in the 12th on a Grant Lung groundout to short which scored Jackson. Jiminian later scored on a passed ball.
Wyatt Divis (3-0), who gave up the tying run in the bottom of the 11th, worked around a leadoff walk and single in the bottom of the inning. A strikeout followed by a grounder to short for a game-ending double play secured the victory.
Core Jackson led the Larks 21 hit attack by going 3-for-6 with three doubles and four RBIs. Leo Jiminian had two hits and drove in three runs. Palmer Hutchison and Grant Schmidt both drove in two.
The Larks return home Wednesday for the start of a nine-game homestand with a non-league game with the Kansas Cannons at 7:00 p.m. The game can be heard on KAYS (1400-AM, 94.3-FM).