Larks starter Jason Zgardowski held Dodge City scoreless through seven innings, allowing just one run on a passed ball in the eighth, helping the Hays Larks to a 7-2 win over the A’s Monday night in Dodge City. Larks improve to 26-9 and 19-9 in the Jayhawk League where they increase their lead over El Dorado to 2 1/2 games.

Hays jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three, scoring on two groundouts in the second and a Clayton Garland single in the third.

Zair Koeiman’s RBI double in the fifth put Hays up 4-0 and it would stay that way until the eighth when the A’s scored on a passed ball. Zgardowski would leave with two outs and the bases loaded. DJ Carr came in and got a strikeout to get out of the jam.

The Larks then scored three in the top of the ninth. The A’s got a solo homer in the bottom of the inning for the final margin.

Zgardowski struck out six and walked three to move to 4-3. Carr picks up his second save.

Zair Koieman went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a two-run homer and two walks and drove in three. Clayton Garland had two hits and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

The Larks are back on the road Wednesday for a non-league game at Junction City. The Brigade make the return trip to Hays Thursday then the Larks host Derby for a weekend series beginning Friday.

El Dorado and Wellington were rained out Monday night.