MAIZE, Kan. — The Hutchinson Monarchs took a big step towards the automatic birth in the NBC World Series with a pair of wins over the Wichita Warhawks.

Hutchinson took the first game 2-0 and then took the nightcap by a score of 5-1. With the pair of wins, Hutchinson improves to 30-9 on the season.

If the weather cooperate the Monarchs host Valley Center at 7 p.m.