CHENEY - The Hutchinson Monarchs scored four runs over the final three innings, including two in the top of the ninth to force extra innings, but the Cheney Diamond Dawgs found a way to finish the deal in the 11th inning.
Three walks, a sacrifice bunt and a walkoff single by Ramon Vingochea helped Cheney take the first meeting of the season with the Monarchs, 10-9. Game 2 in the season series will be at 7 p.m. on Friday at Hobart-Detter Field.
Monarch pitchers gave up three home runs in a game for the third time in franchise history on Thursday. The three homers allowed accounted for five runs in the first three innings as Cheney ultimately built a 9-5 lead after six innings.
The never-say-tie Monarchs chipped away with one run in the seventh on a Colton Cowswer RBI single and one in the eighth on a Kevin Cronin solo homer in his Hutchinson debut for 2019. That cut the defiicit to 9-7.
In the ninth, Cowser led off with a walk and stole his 11th base of the season. He scored on Jackson Loftin's one-out double to pull Hutch within 9-8. Down to its final out, Hutch tied the game at 9-all on Easton Rindt's two-out single.
The Monarchs were just 1 for 6 in extra innings. Hutchinson out-hit Cheney 15-13, but the Diamond Dawgs were the recipients of 12 walks from three Monarch pitchers. The 12 walks represent the third most allowed in single-game frahchise history.
Brayden Whitchurch, Cowser and Loftin had three hits each to lead the Monarchs. Barber and Rindt had two hits each..
Ty Clark (0-1) took the loss for the Monarchs.
