WICHITA – Chase Gibson laced a two-out, two-run double into left field off reliever Carlos Tevera in the top of the ninth inning to break a 3-3 tie and lift the Great Bend Bat Cats to a 5-4 victory over the Hays Larks Sunday night at the NBC World Series at Eck Stadium.
Jerrod Belbin hit a triple to lead off the bottom of the ninth and scored on Griffon Everitt’s sacrifice fly to deep center field to pull the Larks (33-11) within a run, but Jimmy DeLeon lined out to the shortstop and Grant Lung grounded out to second base to end the game.
The Larks closed out first week pool play 1-1 and now needs Great Bend to beat the Waco (TX) Missions Monday to advance to bracket play on Tuesday.
Frank Leo Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Bat Cats (23-15) struck first with two runs in the third. Following a lead off error by second baseman Grant Lung and a hit batter, Ryan Monson hit a run-scoring double and Duante Freeman drove in a run on a ground out.
The Larks scored three in the fourth to take the lead. Alex Strachen, George Sutherland and Mikey Gangwish all singled to start the inning. Following a Max McGuire popup, Jerrod Belbin, who finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple, cleared the bases with a three-run double.
Dawson Pomeroy doubled in the fifth for Great Bend to tie the game 3-3.
The Larks had a chance to take the lead in the eighth when pinch hitter Enzo Bonventre led of the inning with a double but punch runner Griffin Everitt never advanced any further after Jimmy DeLeon hit a fly out to right, Wyatt Divis popped up to left field and Alex Strachen lined out to shortstop.
Drew Marrufo (1-2) worked a 1-2-3 eighth but walked two of the first three batters in the ninth and suffered the loss. Tavera got Tyson Cheatum to fly to right field for the second out before Gibson lined a 2-2 fastball for what proved to be the winning runs.
Rustin Hays made the start for the Larks and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Nash Neff struck out four and walked three in 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Trevor Munsch struck out five in 1 2/3 innings.
Tanner Howe (5-2) pitched two scoreless innings of relief and picked up the win in relief for the Bat Cats. Starter Jarrett Seaton allowed three runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and now walks over the first seven innings.