On a night when the wind was blowing out 30-40 miles per hour, the Liberal Bee Jays walked 17 batters on the way to a 15-14 loss to the Colorado Roughriders at Brent Gould Field. The Roughriders have won all three games in the series so far. The Bee Jays have allowed 38 runs in the series.
The Bee Jays scored first when Drew Grego ripped a line drive home run over the left field wall for a 2-0 lead. The Roughriders scored three runs on one hit, four walks, and one HBP in the second. The Riders added three in the third on two hits and three walks for a 6-2 lead over Liberal. The B.J.’s used a five run third to take a 7-6 lead. Todd Baffa singled home a run and Diego Davis line a sac fly to center. Jake Ortega reached on an error with two outs to make it 6-5. Matt Bernath fisted a two RBI single to center to give Liberal the 7-6 lead. The Bee Jays added three in the sixth. Liberal scored a run on an error before Jack Ryan and Kyle Sandner provided RBI singles for the 10-6 lead after six. But the B.J. bullpen faltered. The Roughriders scored five runs in the seventh on four hits and two walks to lead 11-10. They added four runs on one hit and four walks in the eighth to lead 15-10. Liberal chipped away with two in the eighth when Diego Davis singled home a run and Jake Ortega doubled home a run to make it 15-12. The Jays threatened in the ninth. Landon Bruce singled and Drew Grego doubled to begin the inning. After a walk and a strikeout, Toff Baffa hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 15-13. Back to back walks forced home a 14th run to make it 15-14. With a 3-2 count and two outs and the bases loaded, Liberal grounded to first to end the game.
The Roughriders committed four errors. The Bee Jays walked 17 and hit three. The Riders walked 11. Liberal out-hit Colorado 16-8. Drew Grego was Epic Touch Player of the Game going 3-5 with a home run, two RBI’s and four runs. Kyle Sandner, Diego Davis, Matt Bernath, Landon Bruce, and Jack Ryan had two hits a piece. Drew Grego, Jake Ortega, Carson Willis, and Kyle Sandner hit doubles.
The Roughriders are 6-5. The Bee Jays are 6-6 overall and 5-6 in the Rocky Mountain. The teams close out the series Sunday afternoon at 1:30 with pre-game at 1:15 on 1270 and 92.3 FM. Liberal Kenwoth is the buyout sponsor.
