Great Bend Bat Cat pitcher Gyeongju Kim struck out a club record 14 batters in a brilliant nine-inning performance for the second straight outing.
The lack of run support cost Kim (1-2) in an agonizing 2-1 setback to the 316 Sluggers in Sunday's Sunflower Collegiate baseball showdown. The Bat Cats play the Sluggers at Wichita State's Eck Stadium at 7:45 p.m. Monday.
The Bat Cats (10-6) delivered one RBI with 16 at-bats with a runner in scoring position. Four Sluggers relievers shut out the Bats for five innings. Dylan Blomquist doubled and scored on Noah Best's fifth-inning groundout.
Other than that moment, it was a frustrating afternoon for the Bat Cats.
Tyler Henry and Blomquist reached on third-inning errors. But Darrick Watts retired Alex Rodgers, Best and Zane Spinn. Blomquist was stranded after a leadoff fifth-inning double when Rodgers, Best and Spinn were retired.
The worst missed opportunity occurred when Nico Baumbach (single), Micah Grover (single) and Junior Torres (hit by pitch) loaded the bases in the sixth inning. Sluggers second baseman A.J. Mendolia easily threw out Baumbach at home on Ortiz's short pop fly in right field. Henry struck out to end the threat.
Blomquist's leadoff ninth-inning double was also wasted. Kyle Gates struck out after a missed bunt attempt. Tolle snared Best's line drive and Spinn was retired on a groundout to Mendolia to end the game.
"It comes down to execution and timely hitting," said Bat Cats coach Roger Ward. "If we get opportunities to score, you've got to take advantage. If you don't, it'll generally end up in a loss. Some guys are pressing,. We're not getting it done."
Kim had a rough fourth inning when Trey DeGarmo singled home Mendolia. Kim almost escaped, but Tolle scored on an infield base hit by Seger Holman when Bat Cats second baseman Best bypassed a forceout at second base.
Sluggers 000 000 000 – 2 6 0
Bat Cats 000 010 000 – 1 10 3
Watts, Bates (5), Harris (6), Kimball (8), Tolle (9) and Jones. Kim and Torres. W–Harris. L–Kim, 1-2. Sv–Tolle. 2B–BC–Blomquist 2.
