DRAGONS FALL LATE IN PLAINS DISTRICT OPENER

Lachlan Rosser throws seven strong innings for the Blue Dragon baseball team Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to Cowley in the opening round of the Plains District Tournament in Salina. (Sammi Carpenter/Blue Dragon Sports Information)

May 13, 2025

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

SALINA – The Hutchinson Community College baseball team carried a one-run lead into the eighth inning on Tuesday night in the Plains District Tournament opening round.

But the fourth-seeded Cowley Tigers rallied with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the fifth-seeded Blue Dragons 2-1 at Dean Evans Stadium.

The Blue Dragons (39-20) fall to the elimination bracket where it will face No. 1 seed Barton (42-12) at 1 p.m. Wednesday.

BLUE DRAGON BASEBALL
No. 5 Hutchinson (39-20) vs. No. 1 Barton (42-12)
Plains District Tournament – 1st-round elimination
When: Wednesday, May 13, 2025
Where: Dean Evans Stadium, Salina, KS
Time: 1 p.m.
Video: KJCCC Network (PPV), 12:55 p.m.
X: @bluedragonsport
CLICK FOR LIVE STATS

Hutchinson took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Anthony Mazza tripled off the left-field wall and then scored on an A.J. Mustow groundout to first.

The Blue Dragons took that one-run lead to the eighth. Cowley was able to cash in on a leadoff hit batter and scored two runs in the inning to take a 2-1 lead. The Blue Dragons were retired in order in the ninth.

The outcome spoiled a tremendous starting performance from freshman Lachlan Rosser, who threw seven shutout innings before leaving the game in the eighth.

Rosser struck out five and walked three while allowing five hits and one earned run.

Rosser retired the first nine batters he faced and then made big pitches over the next four innings to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.

Rosser left runners on first and third by ending the fourth inning with a strikeout. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and Rosser again got out of the inning.

Then in the sixth, the defense came to Rosser's rescue when a hit to right field turned into a Leo Griffin-to-C.J. Reid-to Mazza play at the plate for an out.

Sean Combs (2-2) took the loss with one-third of an inning. Colin Flores pitched the final two outs of the eighth inning.

The Blue Dragons were held to five hits to Cowley's eight.

Mazza went 2 for 3 with a double and triple with a run scored. Quinn Maher was 2 for 3 with two doubles and a walk. Nick Glantz had the only other Blue Dragon hit off three Cowley pitchers.

Last season the Blue Dragons lost the opening game of the Plains District Tournament and reeled off five-straight wins to force a second championship game.

Cowley won all three games in the season series with the Blue Dragons this season.