WICHITA, Kan. – The Hays Larks nearly rallied from a six-run deficit but came up short 6-5 to the Wellington Heat in their second pool play game of Championship Week at the NBC World Series at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Frank Leo Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Heat (39-9) scored three in the third and three in the fourth to go up 6-0.

The Larks (35-11) were held to one hit through the first four innings but finally struck in the fifth on a Nic Gaddis hit a two-run homer. They added another run in the sixth then two in the eighth on a two-out RBI double from John Rensel and two-out single from Clayton Rasbeary.

RJ Williams and Wyatt Divis singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but Easton Kirk grounded hard to short to end the game.

Michael Wong (4-1) struck out six of the first seven batters he faced and tied his season high with seven strikeouts but left with two outs in the fourth. He allowed all six runs on five hits and suffered the loss.

After Austin Thomason pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings knuckleballer Rustin Hays, who pitched for El Dorado during the regular season, threw four scoreless innings.
The Larks drop to 1-1 in pool play and will need a win Tuesday against the San Diego Stars to advance to the quarterfinals.

The Stars erased a six-run deficit to beat the Clarinda A’s 16-8 in the first game Sunday.