Ethan Leiter drove in five runs and Aaron Cornell had four RBI’s as the Hays Larks built an early lead then had to rally for a 12-11 win in Haysville Wednesday night.

Leiter’s bases loaded double highlighted a four-run first for the Larks who jumped out to a 6-0 lead after Leiter’s two-run homer in the third.

Haysville responded with four in the third. The Larks tack on three in the fourth on an Aaron Cornell three-run homer, but Heat come back with four in the bottom of the inning to pull within a run. They would grab an 11-10 lead heading into the eighth but the Larks tie it on a Cornell double then take the lead on a Cody Gougler single to right.

Nick Goza pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for his fourth win of the season. Michael Burchett worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save. Starter Andy Lewton was roughed up for six runs, three earned, on six hits in 3 1/3 innings.

The Larks improve to 20-12 and 14-10 in the Jayhawk League and are back within a game of the front-running Heat. The two close out their series Thursday night.