The El Dorado Broncos’ passion for late-inning heroics continued Wednesday night, scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the ninth inning to record a 10-7 comeback victory over the Derby Twins.
Eliot Frey (Murray State) hit a RBI double to tie the game in the top of the seventh, then Broncos' manager Andy Schatzley called for Kyle Tiernan (Murray State) to start a squeeze play with runners at second and third. Tiernan's bunt brought in Graham Tyler (Brown) for what proved to be the game-winning run.
El Dorado added two more runs on a double by Wes Cunningham (Murray State) down the leftfield line to help the Broncos (10-3, 8-3 Jayhawk League) maintain a strong grip for the league lead.
Cunningham also had a triple in the win and finished with two runs scored and three runs batted in for El Dorado, the second straight night he’s knocked in three for the Broncos.
Seven of the runs for El Dorado in the game came with two outs; as the Broncos withstood three home runs for the Twins by Bret Bascue (Wichita State), Brandon Gregorich (California-San Diego) and Mark Haddow (California-Santa Barbara).
Jake Sabol (Central Michigan) earned the win, shutting down the Twins (5-4, 4-3) for 2 1/3 from the sixth through eighth innings. Nick Ward (Butler CC) pitched the ninth and earned his fourth save of the season.
Riley Welch (Yavapai CC) gave up the four runs in the ninth to suffer the pitching setback for Derby.
The Broncos were planning to play in a tournament at Grand Junction, Colo., this weekend, but the tournament was cancelled. The Broncos' staff were trying to find game to fill in the five-day lay-off, but no games had been announced as of late Wednesday night.
EL DORADO 10, DERBY 7
El Dorado 300 003 004 — 10 16 0
Derby 400 111 000 — 7 9 0
Lindsey, Steinmetz (5), Sabol (6), Ward (9) and Carman; Rainey, St. John (5), Welch (9) and Sim. WP — Sabol. LP — Welch. HR — Derby, Gregorich, Bascue. Haddow. Multiple hits — El Dorado, Walker 2, Cunningham 2, Carman 2, Tyler 3, Williams 2; Derby, Gregorich 2. Multiple RBIs — El Dorado, Cunningham 3, Tyler 2; Derby, Waddell 2, Gregorich 3.
CURRENT STANDINGS
LEAGUE OVERALL
El Dorado 8-3 10-3
Derby 4-3 5-4
Liberal 4-4 6-6
Dodge City 2-5 5-5
Hays 2-5 5-6
Wednesday’s scores
El Dorado 10, Derby 7
Hays 6, Liberal 4
Dodge City 11, Valley Center 7
