Larks sweep El Dorado

By RANDY GONZALES

Hays Daily News

The Larks took the Broncos’ best shot, and moved into second place in the Jayhawk League standings.

Hays swept a doubleheader from El Dorado Tuesday night at Larks Park, needing 10 innings to win the opener, 2-1, then coming back to take the nightcap, 11-3. The Larks will be looking to sweep the four-game series in today’s 7:30 p.m. game at Larks Park.

El Dorado, which was tied with Hays for second heading into the night, set up its rotation to throw its two best pitchers in the series. Wichita State left-hander Rob Musgrave pitched in the opener, and previously undefeated Xavier Esquivel started the second game.

“It’s a tribute to our staff to give our guys a chance to win against their guys,” Hays manager Frank Leo said. “Their ball club was very hot; they’re a good club.

“They threw their big guys at us. So far, we’re answering the call,” Leo added.

With the sweep, Hays (27-13 overall, 22-12 Jayhawk) moved two games ahead of El Dorado (25-16, 22-16) into sole possession of second place, behind league leader Derby. The Larks also are now tied with El Dorado in league wins, which is used as a tiebreaker, instead of winning percentage. The top two teams in the Jayhawk League receive automatic berths into next month’s National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita.

Hays scored a pair of unearned runs to win Game 1. The Larks broke a scoreless tie with a run in the fifth. Ricky Angel singled with one out, and Kyle Carney singled with two outs to put runners on first and third. Adam Muenster hit a grounder to third, but the throw to first was wild, allowing Angel to score.

El Dorado loaded the bases in the sixth with nobody out, on a walk, bunt single and hit batter. The run scored on Kieran Bradford’s double-play grounder, then Hays starter Gary Pierpont struck out Josh Morrison with a runner on third to end the inning.

Both teams loaded the bases in the 10th. El Dorado couldn’t capitalize; Hays did.

After Larks reliever A.J. Dunn got the first two outs in the top of the inning, the Broncos used a single, double and walk to load the bases for Morrison. Dunn went to a 3-2 count on the former Lark before getting him on a grounder to short to end the threat.

El Dorado reliever Nathan Johnson got the first out in the 10th, then loaded the bases. Angel singled, pinch-hitter Sean Finley walked and Carney singled. Muenster worked the count full against Johnson, then hit the ball between the pitcher’s mound and home plate. Johnson couldn’t field the ball cleanly on his first try, then stabbed at the ball with his bare hand, only to come up empty as Angel steamed home with the winning run on the error.

“Old saying is the strikeout is the easiest play to defend,” Leo said. “When you put the ball in play, anything can happen.”

Dunn (1-0) picked up the win, pitching 31â„3 scoreless innings. He came into the game with two out in the seventh and the bases loaded and got Jordan Nipp on a fly ball to left. Pierpont worked the first 62â„3 innings, allowing one run on five hits, with four walks and three strikeouts.

“Pierpont was very good; he had an extra day of rest,” Leo said. “Dunn came in with the bases loaded, got out of that jam.”

While the first game was a pitchers’ duel, Game 2 turned into a rare slugfest for the Larks.

Hays scored two runs in the first, on Mike Brownstein’s RBI triple and Angel’s sacrifice fly, only to have El Dorado score three in the second off Larks starter Justin Randa, who struggled early, walking five batters.

Hays regained the lead with three runs in the fourth, with the runs scoring on Carney’s RBI single, a double-play grounder and a wild pitch.

The Larks used a six-run fifth — capped by Carney’s grand slam — to blow the game open. Tyler Barnett doubled to lead off the inning, and scored on Brownstein’s single. Angel singled with one out, and Finley walked to load the bases. That was all for Esquivel. Fort Hays State University right-hander Kendall Cogan hit the first batter he faced, Eric Morrison, to force in another run, then Carney lined a ball down the left field line for a grand slam, his first homer of the season. Carney has struggled to find his swing this season, now batting .214.

“Carney has been working through some things, extra hitting work,” Leo said. “Hopefully, he gets in a groove.”

Randa (2-0) was lifted after a leadoff single in the sixth, and Steve Mazur finished up with two scoreless innings.

“Randa settled in,” Leo said. “We knew we weren’t going to get seven (innings); if we get five, Mazur was fresh.”

The Larks are now 5-3 on their 15-game home stand.

“I’ve always felt good about this club,” Leo said. “I told the guys if we turn the offense up, two, three guys get hot ... it’s starting to happen.”

Larks Notes

Right-hander Brock Nehls (5-0) is the probable starter for tonight’s game, which is Little League Night ... Saturday’s 6 p.m. doubleheader against Nevada (Mo.) is German night, with the five B’s being featured: bierocks, brats, burgers, beer and baseball.

Sports editor Randy Gonzales can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 130, or by e-mail at

rgonzales@dailynews.net.