Wild pitch allows Hays to walk off against Dodge City

Hays, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–It was a game that would turn out to be an evenly-matched game Thursday night at Larks Park, as Dodge City hit the road to face the Hays Larks in the second straight game between the teams. While the A’s would get the early lead, it wouldn’t hold up long enough, as the Larks would walk off on a wild pitch to pick up a 6-5 win.

Dodge City went up 1-0 in the top of the first on a home run by Adam Hollar over the left field wall, and they added to their lead in the same frame when Jordan Vujovich drove in David Gonzalez from third on a fielder’s choice to go up 2-0. The score would remain that way until the third inning, when Hays got on the board. A one out single by Jared Martin that scored Daryl Myers to cut the A’s lead to 2-1. In the fifth, Dodge City pushed their lead back to two at 3-1 when Sean Noel reached on an error, and Vujovich scored on a second error on the same play.

In the bottom of the fifth, history would repeat itself for the A’s, as they continued to have a tough mid-game stretch. After two singles and a hit batter, Easton Kirk would take the 1-0 pitch and send it over the right field wall for a grand slam to give the Larks the first lead of the night at 5-3 with no one out.

Dodge City was able to tie the game in the top of the seventh, using a bunt single and an infield hit to propel them to tie the game. An Anthony Marquez single pulled the A’s to within 5-4 and the game was tied at five, as Vujovich scored on a 6-3 Isaiah Haddad double play.

Hays loaded the bases in the ninth, thanks to a lead-off double, an intentional walk and a walk. With one out, the Larks scored the winning run on a wild pitch, as Wyatt Divis scored from third to give them the 6-5 win.

Both teams ended up with eight hits and two errors on the night.

Dodge City starter Nolan McCarthy went four-plus innings, giving up five runs on six hits and had five strikeouts. Taking the loss was Brock Knoten, who went 2 1/3 innings, giving up a run on two hits. David Gonzalez had two hits for the A’s.

For Hays, Wyatt Divis had three hits and Easton Kirk drove in four runs to lead the Larks. Starter Nick Skeffington went 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Fabian Muniz picked up the win, going three innings of relief without giving up a run and had five strikeouts.

Dodge City dropped to 5-6 on the year, and will host Oklahoma City on Friday night to begin a three-game series. Hays visits Derby for a weekend series. They improved to 13-4 overall, and 7-3 in conference play.