WICHITA – Nick Goza threw seven shutout innings and the Larks made a couple of first inning runs stand up as they beat the Waco (TX) Missions 4-0 on the first day of the 85th National Baseball Congress World Series at Eck Stadium.

The Larks improve to 33-10 on the season and will close out First Week pool play in Sunday’s feature game at 7 p.m. You can hear the game on KAYS (94.3-FM, 1400-AM) and the KAYS app.

Frank Leo Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Goza, who was one of nine players added to the Larks depleted roster following the KCLB Post-Season Tournament, struck out six without issuing a walk while scattering three singles. It was Goza’s 20th career win in a Larks uniform after playing four seasons with the team from 2011-2015.

Ryan Ruder struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth. Chris Rodriguez, who played for the Boulder Collegians during the regular season, got the final three outs in the ninth.

George Sutherland drove in Jimmy DeLeon and Grand Lung with a single in the first inning. Lung’s base hit to center in the second drove in Jarrod Belbin to push the lead to 3-0. It would stay that way until the sixth when DeLeon singled home Taylor Daniell who reached earlier in the inning on an infield single.

The Missions best scoring chance came in the fourth when Cullen Mahew singled to start the inning and Jeremy Jackson was hit by a pitch. The Larks forced out Jackson at second on Chris Harrison’s ground ball to DeLeon. Th shortstop then snagged a grounder up the middle to just throw out Jack Ayedolette to end the inning.