CRUENFELD CYCLE HIGHLIGHTS BLUE DRAGON OFFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Hutchinson CC Sports Information
COLBY – Freshman Cru Huenfeld's cycle in the series finale for the Colby Trojans was just one offensive highlight for the No. 18-ranked Hutchinson Community College baseball team on Saturday at Young Memorial Field.
The Blue Dragons hit a pair of home runs and almost let a 10-run lead slip away as Hutchinson held on to defeat Colby 11-10 in Game 1 on Saturday. Huenfeld then hit for the first Blue Dragon since in 11 years to lead the Dragons to a 24-6 run-rule victory in Game 2.
Hutchinson completed a four-game conference-opening sweep of Colby on Saturday, the first time the Blue Dragons (18-3, 4-0 KJCCC) opened Jayhawk West play with a sweep since 2024. The Blue Dragons play host to Allen in a single mid-week game at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Hobart-Detter Field.
There were many notable offensive achievements for the Blue Dragons on Saturday:
+ Huenfeld became the first Blue Dragon to hit for the Cycle since Quintin Crandall hit for the Cycle on March 5, 2015 against NOC-Enid;
+ The Blue Dragons had a 14-run inning in Game 2,which is the second-largest single inning in Blue Dragon history;
+ The 24 runs scored in the series finale ties for the fifth-most runs scored in a game. The last time the Dragons scored at least 24 runs was April 24, 2023 against the Sterling College JV;
+ The six home runs in Game 2 tied for sixth in Blue Dragon single-game history;
+ The 22 hits in Game 2 tied for the second-most hits in single-game history;
+ The Dragons combined for 56 runs, 50 hits, 11 home runs and 16 stolen bases in the four-game series.
GAME 1 RECAP – Hutchinson 11, Colby 10
The Blue Dragons exploded for eight runs in the second inning to build a 9-0 lead over Colby. Jordan Kuhnau had a two-run double and Eli Duncan hit a three-run home run as Hutchinson sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
With Hutchinson leading 11-3 after five innings, the Trojans scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull the Trojans within 11-10. Seth Ainsworth came out pitched a perfect seventh with one strikeout in the bottom of the seventh to earn his first career save.
Jackson Schanuel went 3 for 4 with a home run, double and two RBIs with two runs scored to lead the Blue Dragons. Kuhnau went 2 for 3 with a two-run double and three RBIs. Diesel Purnell was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
Karter Chamberlain (2-0) earned the pitching victory. He went 4 2-3 innings with five strikeouts. Chamberlain allowed four hits three runs and two walks.
GAME 2 RECAP – Hutchinson 24, Colby 6
The Blue Dragons jumped out fast with back-to-back three run innings to lead 6-0 after 1 1-2 innings. Colby then scored six unanswered runs to tie the game at 6-all after four innings.
Hutchinson's offense then went on a rampage.
Hutchinson sent 19 batters to the plate in its 14-run fifth inning. The inning included four home runs – a two-run homer by Ty Wilson, a three-run home run from Huenfeld, a three-run homer from Finn Hochstein and a grand slam from Kuhnau. The Dragons had 12 hits in the inning, including two triples.
Huenfeld went 4 for 6 in his first career cycle, driving in four runs and scoring three.
Kuhnau was 4 for 5 with two home runs, a double, five RBIs and five runs scored.
Wilson was 3 for 4 with his first two home-run game. He scored four runs and had three RBIs from the No. 9 spot in the batting order.
Purnell was 3 for 4 with a double, triple and three RBIs.
Aidan Marien, Schanuel and Mason Wisnieski had two hits each.
Cameron Curtis (2-0) went four-plus innings to earn the victory. He allowed six hits and six runs with one walk and seven strikeouts.
Brayden Henry pitched two perfect innings of relief in the fifth and sixth innings, while Noah McCombs pitched a perfect seventh to close the game out. Each pitcher had two strikeouts.