Ethan Brown pitched six sharp innings Wednesday, and Braxton Madrigal and Carter Swan combined for three shutout innings of relief, as the Hutchinson Monarchs advanced to the NBC World Series quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over the Liberal Bee Jays at Eck Stadium.
Brown gave up one run on four hits. When Brown came out after six innings, the game was tied 1-1. Madrigal earned the win after throwing two shutout innings, giving up one hit while striking out four. Swan earned the save, working around a leadoff single.
Liberal scored first in the top of the third inning, but the Monarchs immediately answered. With nobody on base and two outs, Nash Wray singled and moved to second base after a pitch hit Drew Bugner in the head. Bugner was OK, and JJ Spafford followed with single to left field, scoring Wray.
The scoreboard didn’t change again until the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, AJ Mustow doubled. Mustow advanced to third base on James Dagenhart’s groundout, and Mustow then scored on a ball-four wild pitch to Owen Rush.
The Monarchs will next play at 6 p.m. Thursday against the Alaska Goldpanners. It is Heartland Heroes Day at the World Series. All first responders, educators and healthcare workers get free tickets at the box office with a valid work ID or badge.
