McLENNAN RALLIES AGAIN TO DOWN DRAGONS

Ben McLaughlin drives in four runs with a home run and double, but the Blue Dragons drop a 9-7 decision to McLennan on Monday in Waco, Texas.
Ben McLaughlin drives in four runs with a home run and double, but the Blue Dragons drop a 9-7 decision to McLennan on Monday in Waco, Texas.
February 28, 2022

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

WACO, Texas – For the second-straight day, the Hutchinson Community College baseball team had No. 1 McLennan Community College on the ropes.

For the second-straight day, the Highland exploded in the eighth inning and came back to defeat Hutchinson and sweep the three-game series.

The Blue Dragons led by five runs at the seventh-inning stretch, but the Highlanders rallied to defeat Hutchinson 9-7 on Monday at Bosque River Ballpark.

Hutchinson falls to 4-5 overall heading into the 2022 home opener against Coffeyville in a doubleheader on Thursday at Hobart-Detter Field. McLennan (10-5) was the preseason No. 1 team in the NJCAA this season, but dropped to No. 8 in the first regular-season poll, which was released during the game.

Sophomore Ben McLaughlin had four RBIs in going 3 for 5 with a double and home run. Jack Torosian was 2 for 5 for the Blue Dragons, who out-hit McLennan 9-7.

McLaughlin gave the Blue Dragons a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a two-run home run, his fourth of the season, to right field. The Dragons extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Sterling Sutcliffe scored on a Cade Baker double.

Leading 3-2 after six innings, the Blue Dragons erupted for four runs in the top of the seventh. McLaughlin drove in Bryce Logan and Torosian with a double down the right-field line. McLaughlin later scored on a balk. The Dragons took a 7-2 lead when Booga de la Garza singled home Kael Babin.

McLennan scored a single run in the seventh and then took advantage of three walks, two hit batsmen an error and a balk as the Highlanders scored six runs on just two hits in the eighth inning to take a 9-7 lead.

Reed Scott (0-1) was the losing pitcher for the Blue Dragons. Ben Dandelet started and worked the first four innings. He struck out two and allowed two hits and one walk.

The Blue Dragons on Sunday were haunted by a rough eighth inning when the carried and 2-1 lead and the Highlanders got a Cole Fontenelle eighth inning grand slam for a 5-2 victory.