HESSTON, Kan. — A big seventh inning proved to be the difference as Tabor College pulled away late to defeat Hesston College 15-3 on Wednesday afternoon (April 22).
Tabor broke open a competitive game with a seven-run seventh inning, capping a steady offensive effort that saw the Bluejays score in five of the final six innings. They finished with 15 runs on 13 hits and drew 12 walks to consistently apply pressure at the plate.
The Bluejays struck first with two runs in the second inning before adding four more in the fourth to take control. After Hesston answered with runs in the second, fifth and sixth innings, Tabor continued to build its lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth before the decisive seventh-inning outburst.
Hesston showed flashes offensively, totaling three runs on six hits. Kreyton Johnson led the Larks with a double, while Camden Stateler and Beckett DePuy each added hits. DePuy drove in a run with an RBI single, Trentis Lane brought home a run on a sacrifice fly in the second inning and Kaleb Wise added an RBI on a groundout in the sixth.
The Larks opened the scoring in the second inning when Lane’s sacrifice fly plated Criss Morillo. Hesston added another run in the fifth as DePuy delivered an RBI single, and capped its scoring in the sixth on Wise’s RBI groundout.
On the mound, Hesston used multiple arms to navigate the game, but Tabor capitalized on free passes and timely hitting to extend innings.
For Tabor, Easton Norris paced the offense with a 3-for-4 performance that included two doubles, three RBIs and three runs scored. Danny Zepeda added two hits and two RBIs, while Ethan Crawford drove in three runs.
Brayden Berens earned the win for Tabor allowing just one run over four innings, giving up two hits and striking out three. The Bluejay pitching staff combined to limit Hesston to three runs across seven innings.
The Larks will wrap up the regular season with a three-game set in Hot Springs, Ark. against Champion Christian College this weekend (April 24-25).
