The Hays Larks survive stranding 17 base runners as they stay alive at the NBC World World Series with a 5-3, 11 inning victory over the Nevada (MO) Griffons Wednesday evening at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita.

Frank Leo Postgame Interview
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Game Highlights
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The Larks opened the 11th with back-to-back singles from Austin Darby and Ryan Busboom. Joe Betcher’s sac bunt moved them to second and third. After Todd Reller grounded out for the second out of the inning, Darby scored the go-ahead run on a past ball. Busboom came across on a wild pitch.

Nevada threatened in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with no outs on a leadoff double and back-to-back hit batters, but reliever Brett Macari came back to get a strikeout and a grounder to third baseman Joe Betcher who turned a 5-3 double-play to end the game.

Hays trailed 3-2 going to the eighth inning and scored the tying run on Elvin Rodriguez sac bunt.

Nevada manufactured two out rallies in the first and fourth to grab a 2-0 lead.

The Larks tied the game in top of the seventh on Aaron Cornell’s third hit of the game, a two-run double into the right field corner.

Nevada took the lead back in the bottom of the inning on a one-out double from Brad Wilson, who also tripled in the game.

Brett Macari picks up the win, going the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on one hit with one strikeout. Starter Joey Begel pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and a walk.

The Larks improve to 5-1 in the tournament and advance into Thursday’s Super Six.