AUGUSTA – Kansas Cannons lefthander Rugan Bravo and Rodney Whaley combined for a brilliant 3-hit shutout to shut down the Great Bend Bat Cats 5-0 in Wednesday's Jayhawk Collegiate baseball game.
Eastern New Mexico's Bravo (3-0, 1.08 ERA) has yielded four earned runs in 25 innings with 23 strikeouts. The Cannons converted first- and fifth-inning double plays.
The Bat Cats (10-7, 9-7 Jayhawk) play the Newton Rebels at home Thursday.
Bat Cats Carson Lorch, Cooper Smith and Jhett Creel singled. Jesse Ponce walked twice and Anthony Capobianco was hit by a pitch. Reliever Tyler Stuhlsatz continued his strong pitching with three shutout innings. Stuhlsatz (2.35 ERA) has permitted six earned runs in 23 innings.
The Cannons used effective baserunning to score five earned runs off Bat Cats pitcher Nolan Bushko (2-2, 11.45 ERA). Christian Caruso doubled in Gannon Snyder after a double steal. Hunter Alvord scored on Kane Springer's groundout. Cooper Martin advanced home on a double steal to cap a 3-run second inning.
Chase Diggins scored on a double steal with Lane Haworth for a 4-0 lead. Cooper Combs homered for the Cannons' fifth-inning run.
The Cannons (15-6, 13-5 Jayhawk) had lost three previous games to the Bat Cats.
GB Bat Cats 000 000 000 – 0 3 0
Kansas Cannons 031 010 00x – 5 7 0
Bushko, Stuhlsatz (6) and Creel. Bravo, Whaley (7) and Springer. W–Bravo, 3-0. L–Bushko, 2-2. 2B–KC–Caruso. HR–KC–Combs.
JAYHAWK COLLEGIATE
Kansas Cannons 14-5 16-6
Haysville Aviators 13-6 14-7
Hutchinson Monarchs 12-5 13-5
Derby Twins 13-6 14-6
GB Bat Cats 9-7 10-7
Kingman Islanders 6-11 6-11
Wichita Dirtbags 4-10 4-10
Diamond Kings 3-11 3-11
Newton Rebels 3-16 3-16
MONDAY–Hutchinson 10, Bat Cats 3; Haysville 11, Newton 10
TUESDAY–Bat Cats 11, Cannons 4; Dirtbags 15, Kingman 4; Hutchinson 13, Haysville 8; Derby 19, Newton 1
WEDNESDAY–Cannons 5, Bat Cats 0; Hutchinson 6, Haysville 4; Derby 19, Newton 1
THURSDAY–Derby 11, Newton 1; Bat Cats 11, Newton 5; Cannons 8, Haysville 1; Derby 10, Diamond Kings 5
FRIDAY–Hutchinson at Dirtbags; Cannons at Haysville
SATURDAY–Bat Cats at Newton (2); Diamond Kings at Derby; Dirtbags at Hutchinson
MONDAY–Wellington at Newton
TUESDAY–Great Bend Bombers at Bat Cats; Derby at Hutchinson; Cannons at Diamond Kings