The magic in the comeback kids fell just short as the Barton Community College baseball team lost 9-6 Sunday to Hutchinson Community College. Pulling out three come-from-behind wins in the series' first three games, the Cougars rallied from four down only to have the Blue Dragons respond with three in the final two innings to avoid Barton's hopes of a sweep. The loss drops Barton to 22-20 on the season as Hutchinson improves to 27-16 moving alongside the Cougars into the fourth spot at 13-11 and two games from first place amidst the muddled Jayhawk West standings. Barton will step aside from conference play with a 5:00 p.m. Wednesday contest at Brown Mackie College before a three-day four-game conference series at Pratt Community College.
As been the case throughout the series, Hutchinson grabbed another early lead plating three in the third kick started by Quintin Crandall's 3-for-5 day with a triple to right field. A Barton infield error allowed Crandall to score with three straight singles to follow as the Blue Dragons built a 3-0 lead.
A one-out walk to Dylan Kuhn and a wild pitch preceded a Hutchinson error in the home half allowing Barton to get one back. Another Blue Dragon error and a Grant Watkins walk loaded the bases but Hutchinson starter Zach Litchen slammed the door getting consecutive strikeouts to end the Cougar threat.
Crandall again led off the inning for Hutchinson in the fourth reaching base after being plunked by starter Cody Brewer. One pitch later the Blue Dragons had their second runner aboard on a Barton infield error trying to roll up a double play. The error would be costly as a single and sacrifice fly ensued pushing the Hutchinson lead out to four.
The lead would hold into the fifth when Watkins delivered a 2-2 two-out pitch to left field then came around to score on Dayton Pomeroy's double to right field cutting the deficit to three.
Working his second inning of relief, Jayme Lovelace appeared to be out of the sixth until Tate Kastens drew a five pitch walk to keep the inning alive. Two pitches later Josh Williams drove a triple to the center field wall and the Blue Dragons were back up by four.
The Cougars restarted their comeback in the home half as Trevor Hughes led off the inning with a walk. Two pitches later Lance White, who already had four doubles in the weekend series, added a triple to his series box score with a deep drive to center field. Bryce Minor then followed with a sacrifice fly and suddenly the Cougars were back to within two.
Going 2-for-5 at the top of the lineup, Evan McDonald led off seventh with a single to left. Two outs later Pomeroy connected on his second homerun in as many games, tying the contest down the left field line for his fourth of the season.
Jackson Rose, game one winner in the series opener on Friday night, relieved Lovelace to start the eight looking to pin the Blue Dragons down once again. Getting the first batter to fly out to left, Rose then plunked Kastens before Josh Williams singled to right giving Hutchinson two runners aboard. Down in the count 1-2 Haden Hernandez picked up his second hit driving in the winning run with another right field single.
With Barton managing only a Richardson two-out walk in the eighth, Hutchinson wasted little time extending the lead in the ninth. Pinch hitter Brock Hammit opened the ninth with a walk and two pitches later Crandall completed his day with his second home run of the series sending a two run shot to left field.
Game one loser Alex Ruxlow worked a solid final 2.1 innings including sending the Cougars down quietly in bottom of the ninth to pick up the win improving to 7-2 while giving Rose his first loss slipping to 5-1.
Barton was outhit 13-9 in the series finale with McDonald and Pomeroy each getting two hits with Pomeroy leading with three RBIs.