HAYS – The Hays Larks took advantage of three two-out walks in the bottom of the first and scored three runs to take the early lead. They didn’t get another hit until the seventh, but it didn’t matter as they knocked off the Denver Cougars 7-2 in a non-league game Sunday night at Larks Park.
Palmer Hutchison’s bases-loaded walk drove the Larks (28-5) first run. Cade Brown followed with a two-run single to give the Larks the early 3-0 lead. It would stay that way until the seventh when they scored three more, two of them on a Leo Jiminian two-run homer. Grant Lung also drove in a run. Zach Henry closed out the Larks scoring with an RBI double in the eighth.
The Cougars (10-19-1) scored a run in the fifth but a line-out to left resulted in an inning ending double-play when the Larks picked off a runner at first. They added another run in the top of the seventh to cut the Larks lead to 3-2.
Starters Hunter Parker (4-0) allowed one hit over three innings and picked up the win. Trevor Munsch and Dylan Dreiling both allowed one run over two innings of relief before Jacob Ensz recorded the final six outs.
The Larks are off Monday before opening their final scheduled series of the regular season Tuesday against the Game Day Saints.