The Garden City Buffaloes swept the Liberal Redskins 3-1 and 5-4 Tuesday afternoon and evening at Lightner Field in Garden City. It’s Liberal’s first loss at Lightner Field since 2023.
In game one, the Buffaloes scored one in the second and two in the third. Bren Kappelmann doubled to right center to lead off the fifth. Austin Dodge doubled over the third baseman to score Kappelmann. Liberal did not score again. Kye Morris was Black Hills Energy Player of the Game with eight strikeouts, two walks, two HBP, and three runs. The Buffs out-hit the Skins 9-4.
In game two, LHS scored two in the third. Elder Ramirez singled. Kye Morris doubled off the fence in right. Blayden Betts ripped a two RBI double off the fence in center. Garden City countered with four in the third. Two runs were earned and two were unearned. Liberal tied the game in the seventh with two runs. Ethan Olmstead walked and Blayden Betts singled. Two straight errors on the pitcher tied the game. But LHS had the bases loaded and no outs and did not score again. The Buffaloes scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to win it. Liberal stranded 15 runners on base. The Redskins struck out 13 times in the loss. LHS out-hit GCHS 9-7. Blayden Betts was Black Hills Energy Player of the Game going 2-3 with a two RBI double. Bentlee Betts pitched 3 and 2/3 allowing one run. Bren Kappelmann pitched 2 and 1/3 allowing two earned runs.
Garden City is 4-3 overall and 3-0 in the WAC. Liberal is 4-4 overall and 0-2 in the WAC. Liberal plays at Goddard Eisenhower Tuesday at 4pm.
