WICHITA – The Hays Larks built a three-run lead then held off a San Diego rally and beat the Waves 3-2 Sunday night at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium to improve to 2-0 in pool play at the NBC World Series.

Frank Leo Postgame

Game Highlights

The Larks (40-10) won despite allowing a season-high eight walks. Starter Alex Lopez issued a season-high five free passes with relievers Sam Reed, Dalton Leiker and Daniel James all giving up one.

James struck out three over two scoreless innings and picked up the win. He issued a one-out walk in the ninth but struck out the final two batters to close out the victory.

Starter Alex Lopez (8-0) allowed two hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings and picked up the win. The senior-to-be at Texas Wesleyan stranded eight base runners – five of them in scoring position.

Michael Burns led off the fourth inning with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch then scored on Nate Olinger’s sacrifice fly to put the Larks up 1-0.

Jacob Boston put them up 2-0 after he reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out then scored on a wild pitch.

Austin O’Brien hit two-out solo home run in the sixth to push the lead to 3-0.

The Larks close out pool play Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. against the Northwest (WA) Honkers and can win the pool with a win. The Honkers game with the Hutchinson Monarchs was rained out and will be made up at 10 a.m. Monday morning.

HOME RUN KING
Mike Mioduszewski won the first ever NBC World Series Home Run Derby. After he advanced out of the preliminary round Sunday morning, Mioduszeski hit three homers in the finals, the one during the tie-breaker round.