WICHITA – Bryce Donovan’s two-out bloop double down the left field line scored two runs and capped a three-run seventh inning which gave Derby the lead for good and the Twins went on to beat the Hays Larks 9-7 Wednesday at Eck Stadium, ending the Larks run at the 85th NBC World Series.

Frank Leo Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Larks (34-12) rallied with three in the third to take a 3-2 lead. The Twins (27-15) answered with three in the bottom of the inning to go up 5-3, but the Larks would come back with a four-run fifth to grab the lead back.

Justin Bundy led off the decisive inning with a double off Rustin Hays. Following a pup up to right, Ryan McNally singled and Derrick Winn has hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carlos Tavera threw a wild pitch which scored Bundy to close the gap to 7-6. He struck out Thomas Green before Donovan came through with the big hit to give the Twins the lead for good. Derby took advantage of a lead off walk to add an insurance run in the eighth.

Grant Lung led off the top of the ninth with a single to left. Following strikeouts by Taylor Daniell and Jimmy DeLeon, George Sutherland walked, but Wyatt Divis popped up to short left field to end the game.

Hays (4-3) suffered the loss after allowint three runs on two hits while recording one out in relief.

Starter Ryan Ruder went 2 1/2 innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits. Chris Rodriguez allowed one run on two hits over 2 1/3 innings and Tavera gave up a run on two hits over the final 1 2/3 innings.

Skyler Luna had three of the Larks 13 hits including a double in their four-run fifth. Jerrod Belbin hit a two-run triple to highlight a three-run third which put the Larks up 3-2. Belbin finished the tournament 6-for-14 with three doubles, two triples and six RBIs.

The Larks finish 2-2 at the NBC World Series and come up one win short of advancing to Championship Week.