No. 18 Hutchinson Pulls Away to Down Baseball in Doubleheader

COLBY, Kan. - The Colby baseball team wrapped up its four-game conference series Saturday (March 7) against No. 18 Hutchinson, falling in both games at home. 

Game 1 

Hutchinson jumped out to an early lead and held off a late Colby rally to defeat the Trojans 11–10 in a back-and-forth contest Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Dragons struck first in the top of the first inning when Schanuel launched a solo home run to left field to give Hutchinson the early advantage.

Hutchinson then broke the game open in the second inning, scoring eight runs on six hits. Hochstein started the rally with an RBI single before Wilson followed with another run-scoring single. Kuhnau added a two-run double, Schanuel drove in another run with a double, and Duncan capped the inning with a three-run home run to left field as the Blue Dragons built a commanding lead.

Colby began chipping away in the third inning when Langford connected for a solo home run to right field to put the Trojans on the board. The Trojans added another run in the fourth inning when Clifford delivered a solo home run to center field on an 0–2 pitch, trimming the deficit.

The Trojans mounted their biggest push in the bottom of the sixth inning. Colby exploded for seven runs on four hits to get right back into the game. Langford delivered a two-run single during the rally before Zdunich drew a bases-loaded walk to bring another run across. Thomson provided the biggest swing of the inning, blasting a grand slam to center field that suddenly pulled the Trojans within striking distance. Despite the late surge, Hutchinson held on to secure the 11–10 victory.

Langford led the Trojans offensively with a three-hit performance, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and two RBIs. Brooks also recorded a multi-hit game with two hits in four at-bats, while Thomson drove in a team-high four runs with his sixth-inning grand slam.

On the mound, Whitaker took the loss for Colby after allowing nine runs on seven hits over one and two-thirds innings. Schroeder provided solid relief work for the Trojans, tossing four and one-third innings while allowing two runs on three hits and striking out five.

Hutchinson totaled 11 hits in the game, led by Schanuel who went 3-for-4 at the plate. Kuhnau and Duncan each drove in three runs for the Blue Dragons, while Hochstein and Purnell both recorded multiple hits. Hutchinson also showed patience at the plate, drawing seven walks and swiping three bases in the contest. Colby finished with nine hits and played a clean defensive game without committing an error.

Game 2

The baseball team dropped the second game of Saturday's doubleheader to Hutchinson 24–6 after the Blue Dragons used a massive fifth inning to pull away..

Hutchinson jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning and adding three more in the second to take a 6–0 advantage. The Trojans fought back midway through the game as Zdunich connected on a solo home run in the second before Thomson blasted a three-run homer in the third to pull Colby within one. Clifford later added a solo home run in the fourth to tie the game at 6–6.

The Blue Dragons quickly regained control in the fifth inning, erupting for 14 runs on 11 hits to break the game open and cruise to the 24–6 victory.

Thomson led the Trojans with three RBIs, while Clifford and Zdunich each homered in the loss. Hutchinson finished with 22 hits in the contest, highlighted by a four-hit, five-RBI performance from Kuhnau.

Colby will look to bounce back on Thursday (March 12) as the Trojans return to the field at home against Butler.