By Brad Hallier
The Hutchinson Monarchs scored seven runs in the eighth inning Monday, overturning a four-run deficit in beating the Derby Twins 8-5 at Hobart-Detter Field.
The win improved the Monarchs, the 2023 NBC World Series champions and 2024 NBC runner-up, to 3-0.
The Monarchs did little offensively through seven innings, but in the eighth inning, they came up big. AJ Mustow first bombed a two-run homer, his second homer of the game, which cut the Derby lead to 5-3. With two outs, Tyson Vassart, Dylan Bell and Jarrett Herrmann hit consecutive singles, closing the deficit to 5-4.
JJ Spafford’s two-run single then gave the Monarchs the lead, Drew Bugner followed with an RBI triple, and Blake Bradford’s single brought in Bugner for the final run.
Aiden Sowers picked up the win in relief, pitching two innings, giving up two runs and striking out three. Mitchell Johnson struck out the side in the ninth inning to earn the save.
The Monarchs return to action today at Derby. Their next home game will be at 7 p.m. Thursday against the Kansas Cannons.
