The Hutchinson Monarchs clinched a spot in the NBC World Series’ bracket play on Sunday, as the Monarchs earned their second win by mercy rule, beating the Dodge City A’s 10-0 at Wichita State’s Eck Stadium.
Bradyn McClure threw a complete game, allowing just one hit. McClure walked none and struck out seven.
The Monarchs outhit the A’s 12-1. Drew Bugner had three hits. They gave McClure all the run support they would need with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
The Monarchs again got it done with two outs, as Joey Senstock’s double scored Jaden Gustafson, Dylan Bell then singled home Senstock.
In the fourth inning, the Monarchs tacked on three more runs. Jake Knox’s infield single scored Gustafson. With one out, Jake Gutierrez’s sacrifice fly scored Tyson Vassart, and later, Blake Bradford’s bases-loaded walk scored Knox.
Gutierrez added a two-run double in the fifth inning.
The game ended with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning when Knox singled home AJ Mustow.
The Monarchs improved to 29-7 overall and 2-0 in pool play and will wrap up pool play at 6 p.m. Monday against the Seattle Cheney Studs (1-1). The Monarchs could finish first, second or third in pool play. The Monarchs would win the pool with a win. The Studs would win the pool with a win, and a San Diego Stars win over Dodge City. If the Studs and A’s win, it would be a three-way tie, and the tiebreaker would be run differential. After two games, the Monarchs are at plus-18, the A’s at minus-2, and the Studs at minus-3.
