They needed one more out. Liberal hadn’t defeated Hays in baseball since 2018, they led 3-1 with two outs in the seventh. But a two RBI double to left sent the game to extra innings. Liberal would lose that game 4-3 in eight innings and dropped game two 5-3 on a chili Thursday at the National Beef Sports Complex.
In game one, the small ball Skins scored two in the second. Bentlee Betts whacked a double to right to lead off the inning. Landry Fitzgerald an Austin Dodge both laid down sac bunts and reached safely on errors. Ethan Olmstead singled home a second run after a double play. Hays scored a fourth inning run which was unearned after a Liberal error. The Redskins added an insurance run in the fifth. Ethan Olmstead and Bren Kappelmann singled. A run scored as Eathan Hernandez walked with the bases loaded. Hays scored two in the seventh with two outs to tie it at 3-3. Both runs were unearned. Liberal placed their first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh but did not score. Hays scored run in the 8th. Liberal had two on and no outs and bases loaded one out and did not score in the eighth. Liberal out-hit Hays 8-6. Liberal had four errors and Hays had three. Ethan Olmstead was 3-4. Kye Morris pitched seven innings and did not allow an earned run.
In game two, Hays scored one in the second and one in the third to lead 2-0. Blayden Betts singled home a third inning run. Hays scored two runs on three hits in the fourth to lead 4-1. In the fifth, Ethan Olmstead and Kye Morris singled. Bren Kappelmann singled home a run. Hays scored one more in the sixth. Liberal scored a run in the seventh thanks to a pair of HHS errors. Hays out-hit Liberal 9-7. Hays had three errors and Liberal had one. Blayden Betts was 2-4. Liberal pieced together their pitching as they play Saturday morning in Manhattan.
Hays improves to 6-10 overall and 6-4 in the WAC. Liberal falls to 9-11 overall and 2-6 in the WAC. Liberal plays at Manhattan Saturday morning at 11am.
