The Great Bend Bat Cats were one run away from beating the Jayhawk League champions in back-to-back games.
But the Hays Larks escaped with a hard-fought 5-2 victory in 10 innings Sunday at Al Burns Memorial Field. The Bat Cats hit into double plays in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
The Bat Cats (10-23, 15-24) return home Monday for a three-game series against the Dodge City’s A’s.
Barton Cougar pitcher Nolan Riley delivered a solid 86-pitch outing with one run permitted in five innings. But reliever Trey Boren was roughed up for three 10th-inning runs.
Hays Larks Daryl Myers and Clayton Rasbaery drew back-to-back 10th-inning walks. Matt Munoz singled home Myers and Jared Martin singled home Rasbaery and Munoz for a 5-2 lead.
Bat Cat Blaine Ray singled home Hunter Romero after a fourth-inning double for a 1-0 lead. Scott Wolverton singled home Martin for a 1-1 tie after five innings.
Hays’ Cole Solomon reached on an error and scored on Rasbaery’s seventh-inning single. Great Bend’s Andrew Schatz singled home Blaine Ray for a 2-2 tie after seven innings.
Hays Larks 000 010 100 3 – 5 10 0
GB Bat Cats 000 100 100 – 2 6 3
Wong, Browning (7) and Wolverton. Riley, Anderson (6), Boren (7) and Gavin Johnson. W—Browning. L—Boren. 2B—GB—Reece Johnson, Romero; H—Martin, Munoz.
JAYHAWK LEAGUE
Hays Larks 25-8
Dodge City A’s 21-12
Liberal Beejays 19-14
Derby Twins 18-17
El Dorado Broncos 15-19
GB Bat Cats 10-23
Haysville Aviators 9-24
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25
Dodge City at Great Bend
Liberal at Hays
Haysville at El Dorado
TUESDAY, JULY 24
Dodge City at Great Bend
Liberal at Hays
Haysville at Derby
MONDAY, JULY 23
Dodge City at Great Bend
Liberal at Hays
El Dorado at Haysville
SUNDAY, JULY 22
Hays 5, Great Bend 2, 10 innings
Dodge City 7, El Dorado 0
Derby 11, Liberal 9
SATURDAY, JULY 21
Great Bend 7, Hays 4
El Dorado 11, Dodge City 2
Liberal 13, Derby 7
FRIDAY, JULY 20
Dodge City 6, El Dorado 4
Liberal 15, Derby 4
THURSDAY, JULY 19
Great Bend 9, Liberal 6
Dodge City 6, El Dorado 4
Hays 9, Haysville 6
WEDNESDAY, JULY 18
Dodge City 3, Liberal 1
El Dorado 16, Derby 13
Haysville 9, Hays 6
TUESDAY, JULY 17
Dodge City 7, Great Bend 6
Derby 8, El Dorado 3
Hays 15, Haysville 2