Once Great Bend's top pitcher Daxton Minton departed after four strikeouts and two shutout innings, the Hays Hays Indians swung the momentum for a hard-fought 6-4 Western Athletic Conference victory Tuesday.

The Indians (1-4, 1-0 WAC) built a 6-2 lead against reliever Rafael Chavez (0-1) and held off the Panthers' late comeback bid. 

Defending WAC champion Great Bend (2-2, 0-2 WAC) faces an uphill challenge to contend for the league title.

The Indians' defense keyed the victory. Great Bend's Koehn Ribordy doubled and tripled, but was thrown out at home and third. 

The Indians scored an unearned third-inning run after Cade Jennings reached base on an error and scored on a Kal Lonsdale groundball.

Ribordy's triple scored Gavin Wondra and Minton for a 2-1 lead. Hays third baseman Paxton Shaw threw Ribordy out at home on Jaxon Wondra's groundball, the game's biggest play.

Hays scored three fourth-inning runs for a 5-2 lead. 

Rhoades and Shaw singled and Bennett Smith was hit by a pitch. Jace Dreher's double scored Rhodes and Smith for a 3-2 lead. Chavez was unable to record an out on back-to-back infield plays. Shaw beat Chavez's throw to home on a grounder. Pinch runner Keenan Brazda scored on a Jennings squeeze bunt. 

Smith scored on a Chavez wild pitch for a 6-2 lead as Chavez walked three batters. Shortstop Minton turned a Jennings line drive into a double play.

Panther Trent Kern scored on a fourth-inning error, but Rhoades retired Carter Dreiling and Jaden Prilling to strand base runners at third and first base.

Jaxon Wondra doubled home Minton in the sixth inning for a 6-4 score. Hays reliever Shaw retired three batters in the seventh inning to earn a save.

Hays High 001 410 0 — 6 7 3

Great Bend 002 011 0 — 4 9 2

Rhoades, Shaw (6) and Minton, Chavez (3), Ribordy (5) and Jaxon Wondra. W—Rhoades, 1-2. L—Chavez, 1-1. 2B—GB—Jaxon Wondra 2, Ribordy; H—Dreher. 3B—GB—Ribordy