HESSTON, Kan. — The Hesston College baseball team held a late lead but ultimately fell to York University 9–7 on Tuesday afternoon at home.
After three scoreless innings, York struck first in the fourth with an RBI single to take a 1–0 advantage. The Larks answered in the bottom half of the inning. Trentis Lane reached on a walk and later scored on an RBI walk by Chris Cammllari. Moments later, Kreyton Johnson came home on a York error to give Hesston a 2–1 lead.
Hesston extended its advantage in the fifth inning. Federico Moran doubled down the left-field line and Hayden Kearney was hit by a pitch to put two on. Johnson delivered with a two-run double to left center, and Samuel Vasquez followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 5–1.
York responded with a run in the sixth to cut the margin to 5–2, but the Larks answered again in the bottom half. RJ Cruz doubled down the left-field line, and Moran drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 6–2.
The Panthers began their comeback in the eighth inning, scoring three runs on a pair of RBI hits to narrow the gap to 6–5. Hesston scratched across a run in the bottom of the inning when Noel Cesena scored on a York error, extending the lead to 7–5 heading into the ninth.
In the final frame, York capitalized on walks, hit batters and timely hits to plate four runs. A two-run single and a sacrifice bunt highlighted the rally as the Panthers took a 9–7 lead.
Hesston put the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth as Johnson singled up the middle, but York retired the next two batters to secure the win.
Johnson led the Larks at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. R. Cruz added three hits, while Vasquez recorded two hits and an RBI. Moran doubled, drove in a run and scored once.
On the mound, A. Shipp and C. Simkins combined for four strong innings to open the game, with multiple relievers working through the middle frames before York’s late surge.
The Larks will face Southwestern Christian University at home next Tuesday, February 24.
