The Hays Monarchs advanced in the winners bracket of the “AA” state tournament in Sabetha on Wednesday afternoon with an 8-7 come from behind win.

The Monarchs got on the board first in the second inning with an RBI single by Pierce Shippers. Beloit took the lead in the top half of the third, taking advantage of three walks in the inning, scoring four times to take a 4-1 lead. The Monarchs answered with two fourth. Bryan Brungardt and Nick Hammeke each drove in a two-out run to cut the Beloit lead to 4-3.

Then in the bottom of the fifth the Monarchs offense exploded for five runs in the inning. Nathan Zimmerman doubled home two, Colby Shippers followed that with an RBI double of his own and Bryan Brungardt drove in his second run of the game giving Hays the 8-4 lead. Beloi tplated three-runs on just one hit in their half of the sixth cutting the Monarchs lead to 8-7.

In the seventh Beloit got the first two runners on to begin the inning before Hays’ Nick Hammeke came in and slammed the door shut for his second save of the summer retiring three-straight to end the game.

Nathan Zimmerman turned in five plus innings, allowing six runs on five hits, struck out eight but walked six in the game. The Monarchs improved 18-11 and they will get the winner of the Ellis versus Silver Lake tomorrow at six o’clock in Sabetha. Our coverage will get underway at 5:45 tomorrow on 14-KAYS.