Michael Burns hit a leadoff double and scored on Derek Birginske’s three-run homer to give the Larks an early 3-0 lead and they go on to defeat the El Dorado Broncos 8-2 Friday night in the first game of their key early three-game series at McDonald Stadium in El Dorado. Burns went 4-for-5, scoring twice as the Larks improve to 5-0 and 2-0 in the Jayhawk League. El Dorado falls to 3-1 and 1-1 in league play.

The Broncos score two in the fifth to pull within a run at 3-2, but the Larks took control with three in the seventh on a Zair Koieman RBI triple along with a Kevin Czarnecki groundout and a Tyler Detmer sac fly. Detmer added a two-run homer in the ninth for the final margin.

Kansas State’s Jake Fromson allowed two runs on five hits over six innings and picks up the win. Nate Olinger allowed just one hit over the final three innings for the save.

Game two is scheduled for Saturday night with the series finale on Sunday night.