By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
What’s better than an eight-run first inning?
Try a nine-run second.
The Joplin Slashers paraded 13 batters to the plate in both uprisings and rolled past Hays 20-11 Saturday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
The Slashers (3-2, 1-2 Jayhawk League) scored just four runs in their first two league games. But on this night, the runs came early and often.
Shortstop Colby Price, from Oral Roberts University, rapped four hits and drove in six runs to headline a 15-hit attack.
With the runners moving on a 3-2 pitch, Price’s sinking line drive went for a three-run single as right fielder Billy Boockford couldn’t come up with a sliding catch. Price singled twice in the second inning, the last one driving in two runs, and he stroked a run-scoring single to left in the fourth.
Center fielder Jared DeLong, second baseman Patrick Walsh, designated hitter Joe Walton and right fielder Mike Dunlavy contributed two RBI apiece for the Slashers, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Dunlavy, Walton and Will McGinnis had two hits apiece.
Hays starter Tyler Sturdevant retired the first two hitters he faced on a popup and strikeout. But McGinnis lined a double to right-center field, the first of 10 consecutive Slashers to reach base.
Walton’s single to center and Mick Doyle’s walk set the stage for Price’s rare three-run single. Singles by Dunlavy, Kyle Hawkins, Reed Kreiser and Jared DeLong produced three runs, and walks to Walsh and McGinnis forced in a run. DeLong scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-0 before reliever Kevin Large ended the inning with a strikeout.
The Slashers parlayed five hits and five walks during their second-inning spree. Three hits went for extra bases — two-run double by Walsh, RBI double by Walton and two-run triple by Dunlavy.
The high-scoring contest wasn’t void of defensive gems.
In the third, Price ranged into the hole at short and threw out Andrew Heck.
One inning later, Walsh made a diving stop on Chase Schippers’ grounder behind second and while laying on his stomach flipped the ball behind his back to Price, who scooped the low throw for a forceout.
Slashers starter Leslie Williams allowed six hits and five runs in four innings, walked two and struck out four.
Third baseman Jason Kudlock lined two triples, a single and drove in three runs for the Larks. Catcher Joe Huwer had three singles and three RBI, and Rich Michalek had two hits and two RBI.
The Slashers and Larks conclude their three-game series tonight at 7.
Sports
17 runs in first two innings carry Slashers past Hays
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