Coffeyville baseball dropped two games to Hutchinson at home Friday afternoon, just one day removed after taking two games off of the Blue Dragons on the road.
The Red Ravens came into Friday's doubleheader averaging 10 runs a game, but the team wasn't able to generate that level of offense Friday. However, for a time it certainly seemed like they would, as the Ravens immediately score 4 runs in the first two innings of the first game. Starting pitcher Christopher Spry held onto that lead, but showed cracks in the top of the fourth, giving up a solo homerun to Hutchinson third baseman Hunter Gotreaux. Those cracks broke apart completely in the very next inning. Hutchinson got 4 more across, including another 3-run homerun for cleanup hitter Sterling Sutcliffe, giving the Blue Dragons 5-4 lead. That first lead didn't last long, as Coffeyville's own cleanup hitter Brady Claypool hit a solo shot of his own in the bottom half, but Hutchinson again scored 4 runs in the fifth to again take a lead. This time, it was decisive, with Coffeyville only able to add a couple of runs themselves to arrange a 9-6 final score. Tayler Mahoney was the losing pitcher of the first matchup, allowing 4 runs and 3 earned runs in 2 innings.
In the second game, the Blue Dragons were the ones scoring the early runs. Coffeyville starter Jayden Quarles allowed Hutchinson scored 3 runs in the top of the first, and 2 more runs in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead. Coffeyville was able to respond in the bottom half of the inning with a 2-run homerun by third baseman Quinton Carlberg, but a controversial non-call on what would have been a foul ball tipped the scales back in the Hutchinson's favor. The Dragons plated 4 more runs in the top of the seventh off the back of that call, taking a 6-run lead that ultimately decided the game. Coffeyville got one more across in the seventh themselves, but fell 9-4. Quarles took the loss for Game 2, giving up 4 earned runs in 3.1 innings work.
Coffeyville is now 8-4 on the season. They'll return to Walter Johnson Park next Thursday, hosting the Johnson County Cavaliers. The doubleheader will start at 1PM and can be heard on 98.9, KQQF.
