SALINA – The Hays Monarchs Jr. American Legion baseball team put together a late inning comeback in their Class A Zone Tournament opener against McPherson Monday evening at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina, but the comeback bid fell short in an 8-7 loss.

The top-seeded Monarchs (18-6) scored twice in the first inning but McPherson answered with seven unanswered runs to build a 7-2 lead after four.

The Monarchs scored a run in the fifth then two in the sixth on RBI doubles from Karl Rack and Zane Staab to close the gap to 7-5.

McPherson (6-18) tacked on a key run in the top of the seventh. The Monarchs would get two in the bottom of the inning on a passed ball and an error but that would be it.

Carlos Schwindt allowed five runs on six hits over three innings took the loss.

The Monarchs will now face Salina in an elimination game Tuesday at 5pm. If they win they move on to play the loser between Great Bend and McPherson at 8pm. If they lose, they are eliminated.