HAYS – The TMP-Marian Monarchs earned a split doubleheader on an extremely windy and hot afternoon against the Abilene Cowboys Friday in the first home action of the season.
Game 1: TMP 5, Abilene 4
In the first game of the day TMP/La Crosse sophomore Caden Morgan
drove in three runs, including the game winner on a walk-off single in the
bottom of the seventh lifting TMP to the 5-4 win.
The Monarchs scored a run in each of the first three innings while Morgan held the Cowboys bats in check for three shutout innings.
The Monarchs scored runs on a Morgan groundout in the first, wild pitch in the second and a Morgan single in the third and they led 3-0 heading into the fourth.
The Cowboys offense was able to get to Morgan scoring four runs to take a 4-3 lead.
In the sixth TMP tied the game at four after Nick Helget reached on a lead-off single and came in to score after back-to-back wild pitches.
In the to of the seventh the Monarchs centerfield Joey Mindrup threw the would-be go-ahead runner out at the plate, his second outfield assist of the game preserve the 4-4 tie.
In the seventh Nick Herrman led off the inning with a walk and after a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch Morgan delivered the game-winning RBI single to left giving TMP the 5-4 win.
Mark Rack turned in three innings of scoreless relief for the win.
Game 2: Abilene 10, TMP 0 (5 innings)
In the second game of the day Abilene got out to a quick
lead and held the TMP bats at bay in a 10-0 win in five innings.
TMP starter Jace Wentling struggled with command, walking three in more than inning of work and the Monarchs defense committed three errors allowing Abilene to build an 8-0 inning through an inning and a half.
Wentling suffered the loss. He didn’t make it out of the second inning and game up eight runs, just three earned on three hits with three walks.
His counterpart, Brenton Reiff held TMP to just two hits in five shutout innings for the win.
With the split of the doubleheader TMP is 4-2 on the season. Abilene is 5-5.
The Monarchs return to action Tuesday at home against Great Bend.