Jun 05, 2023

⚾ Larks closeout road trip with slugfest win in Nebraska

Posted Jun 05, 2023 1:41 PM

Hays Post

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – The shorthanded Hays Larks had to turn to a couple of position players on the mound Sunday as they closed out their season-opening, four-game road trip with a wild 15-12 win over the North Platte Plainsmen at Bill Wood Field.

The Larks (3-1) trailed 10-5 after three innings but took the lead for good with four runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth. The Plainsmen (0-5) scored a run in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at the plate when outfielder Damian Ruiz got back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Ruiz allowed an unearned run in the ninth and struck out the side for the save.

Second baseman Bryson Evans pitched four scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts and no walks and picked up the win.

Jose Velazquez, who pitched for the Larks in 2021, made his season debut and allowed 10 runs (three earned) on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings. Caden Hare allowed one run on one hit over 1 1/3 innings of relief.

Tyler LaRue had three of the Larks 12 hits including a home run in the first and drove in four runs. Garrett Gruell and Trent Baker both added two RBIs each.

Trent Baker scored five runs. It's the most in a game since Grant Lung scored five times vs. Colorado Sox on June 26, 2021.

The Plainsmen committed 10 errors which resulted in 10 unearned Larks runs.

UP NEXT

The Larks return to action Wednesday when they host the Dodge City A’s in their home opener. The A’s are off to a 1-2 start after an 8-6 loss to the Denver Cougars Sunday night.