HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Great Bend Bat Cats could not hang onto an early lead, falling on a walk-off two-run double in the 9th inning 3-2 against the Hutchinson Monarchs Wed., July 9.
The Bat Cats struck first in the second inning on a solo homer from Tony Moore before extending their lead in the 3rd to 2-0 thanks to a sacrifice fly by Kyle Walker. Pitching was dominant from Jacob Field, who was named one of the honorees as the Jayhawk Collegiate League Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday. Field tossed seven full innings, allowing just one run and striking out five batters.
Great Bend had four hits total, but were hitless in the final five innings. The Monarchs got on the board on an RBI groundout in the 6th inning, making the score 2-1 Bat Cats until the 9th inning. In the bottom of the ninth, their leadoff man reached via a walk. Then following back-to-back outs, a four-pitch walk put the represented winning run on base. Then Jake Knox delivered on the sixth pitch of the at-bat, hitting a double to right field to score the two baserunners, giving Hutchinson the 3-2 win.
The loss for Great Bend puts then at 15-11 on the season as they have lost five of their last seven games. They will rematch the Monarchs Thurs., July 10 in Great Bend at 7 p.m.
