BETHANY, Okla. – The Hays Larks rallied from an early two-run deficit then held off a ninth inning Bethany rally to beat the Bulls 11-8 Wednesday evening at Dolese Park. In a game that saw a combined 30 hits, the Larks (31-8, 27-8 JL) scored five runs over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings then added four in the ninth to go up 11-5. Bethany (11-25, 11-24 JL) rallied with three in the bottom of the ninth and had the bases loaded before Graylon Brown got a fly out to center to end the game.

Ty Redington and Austin O’Brien each had four of the Larks season-high 19 hits. Connor Ross and Josh Minjarez added three each. O’Brien hit a three-run homer in the ninth and drove in four. Redington and Minjarez both knocked in two.

Layne Downing (2-1) pitched two innings of scoreless relief and gets the win. Brown faced one batter in the ninth for his second save.

The Larks have won eight straight and improve to 10-4 in the Jayhawk League second half where they remain alone in first place. They go for the three-game sweep Wednesday.