HAYS – The Hays Larks made a couple of costly errors and the Denver Cougars took advantage of those mistakes as they handed the Larks their first loss of the season Friday at Larks Part.
Denver 4, Hays Larks 2
The Denver Cougars took and early 1-0 lead in the first
inning as Hays starter Zach Firmature struggled to find his rhythm in his first
career appearance for the Larks.
On the second pitch of the game Firmature hit the leadoff batter Ricardo Preciado. After a sacrifice bunt and a single Preciado came in to score on an RBI groundout by Steve Priest that put Denver up 1-0. Firmature was able to strand a runner at third to end the inning.
After the Larks were retired in order in the bottom of the first Denver threatened again in the second by Firmature was able to get a pair of strikeouts to end the inning with the bases loaded.
It took the Larks offense until the third inning before they were able to get on the board against Denver starter Dylan Munroe.
Palmer Hutchison put together a 10-pitch at-bat that ended with a leadoff double in the bottom of the third. Two batters later Sean Cooper delivered an RBI single to left scoring Hutchison to tie the game at 1.
After two straight scoreless inning the Cougars got the leadoff hitter on in the sixth inning and then an error on a potential double-play ball allowed the Cougars to get the first the first two runners of the inning aboard. Three batters later the Cougars plated a run on an error by shortstop Matt Cavanaugh that put Denver up 2-1.
The Cougars added two more runs in the seventh inning to build a 4-1 lead through seven innings.
The Larks got a run back in the bottom of the eight inning on a Jake Wyeth double but the Larks couldn’t get any closer in a 4-2 loss.
Dylan Munroe earned the win for Denver. He allowed just one run on five hits in five innings. Aston Wetzler allowed one run in four innings and earned the save.
Drew Buhr got the loss in relief for Hays. He allowed one unearned run in three innings with three strikeouts.
Sean Cooper was two-for-three with and RBI for Hays and Corin Truslow collected three hits.
Hays drops to 3-1.
They will host the Colorado Springs Outlaws for the first of two games Saturday.