HAYS, Kan. – The Hays Larks split the home and away two-game series with the Dodge City A’s last night getting the 6-5 victory in dramatic fashion. With the game tied at 5-5 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, Wyatt Divis lead off the inning with a hit down the first base fline for two bases. After Dodge City pitcher Brock Knoten struck out Jared Martin, the A’s wanted no part of Easton Kirk who had homered and singled in his previous two at bats, sending him to first on an intentional walk. With two on and no outs, Clayton Rasbeary would take a walk in five pitches leaving the bases loaded for pinch-hitter Matt Munoz. After getting ahead 0-2 in the count, Knoten threw a pitch past pitcher Anthony Marquez and Divis came in to score giving the Larks the win.
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Dodge City took a 2-0 lead after the first inning thanks to a solo home run by Adam Hollar and a run scored on a fielder’s choice. The Larks would not get a run until the bottom of the third when Martin hit a RBI double scoring Daryl Meyers. The A’s would get that run back in the top of the fifth with a run scored on an error by first basemen John Rensel.
The Larks answered in the bottom of the fifth with singles by Meyers and Divis. Martin would take a pitch on the body to load the bases for Easton Kirk who launched his second grand slam of the week into right field, giving the Larks the 5-3 lead. Larks pitcher Mason Myrhe, who replaced starter Nick Skeffington in the second inning, walked the first two batters in the top of the seventh. Fabian Muniz would come in for Myhre after those walks but both runners would score to tie the game going into the eighth inning. Muniz would be flawless in the next two innings and set up the Larks for the walkoff win.
Muniz picks up the win giving up two hits in three innings with no runs, no walks and five strikeouts. Wyatt Divis was 3-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. Easton Kirk was 2-4 with four RBI’s and a run scored.
The Larks are now 13-4 overall and 7-3 in Jayhawk League play. They go on the road for three straight games in Derby before coming back home on Monday to take on Dodge City again.