Larks drop 2 in matchup of leaders

By The Hays Daily News

DERBY — In a matchup of the two top teams in the Jayhawk League Wednesday night, the Hays Larks dropped both ends of a doubleheader to fall four games behind league leader Derby.

Derby got a walkoff homer to win the opener, 3-2, then the Twins took the nightcap, 4-1.

Brad Hutt pitched a complete game in taking the loss in the opener. Hutt (1-1) got the first out in the bottom of the seventh before surrendering the game-winning home run. Hutt allowed six hits, with three walks and one strikeout.

Hays got a run in both the first and second, while Derby scored twice in the first. Rich Michalek hit a run-scoring single in the first for Hays, and Adam Muenster had an RBI groundout in the second.

In the second game, Derby (26-8 overall, 23-7 Jayhawk) broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth. Hays (22-10, 17-9) got a run in the third to tie the game after Derby scored in the first off Larks starter Gary Pierpont. Pierpont (3-2) allowed four runs on six hits in four innings, with five walks and no strikeouts.

The Larks, who were held to two hits, scored their run when Tyler Barnett hit a one-out single, stole second and third and came home on an error by the pitcher.

The Larks open a 15-game home stand Friday with a 6 p.m. doubleheader against Joplin, Mo., at Larks Park. Hays’ probable starters are right-handers Brock Nehls (4-0) and Bobby Lewton (4-0).