Bee Jays Strand 13 in Season Ending Loss

The Liberal Bee Jays’ memorable 2020 season ended in frustrating fashion Friday night at Eck Stadium.  The Houston Express shrugged off a Bee Jay rally to win 5-4 on a night when the Bee Jays stranded 13 runners on base.  Included was an agonizing ninth when the Bee Jays placed the tying run on third with one out but didn’t score.
There are ere opportunities galore for Liberal.  They had two on and two outs in the second and didn’t score.  Nate White led. off the third with a double and advanced to third with no outs and didn’t score.   The first two Bee Jays reached in the fourth and didn’t score after Houston scored three in the third.  Liberal scored two runs with two outs in the fifth.  Cade Brewer doubled to left to score one and Bryce Donovan singled home a run with a line drive to right.  The Express answered with two in the bottom of the fifth chasing starter Cal Carver who went four total innings.  Tanner King didn’t allow a run the rest of the night keeping the Bee Jays in the game.  The Bee Jays left one man on in the fifth and sixth.  In the eighth, the Express walked the first two hitters and walked the bases loaded with two outs but the Bee Jays didn’t score.  The Bee Jays rallied in the ninth.  After a lead off walk to Jack Malone, Cade Brewer singled.  Cayde Ward ripped a single to left to make it 5-3.  Bryce Donovan walked placing the lead run on base with no outs.  Tyler Delong’s fly ball to left took the left fielder to the wall for a sac fly to make it 5-4.  Ward tagged from second and went to third placing the tying run on third with one out.  But a strikeout and ground out to short ended the game and the season.  Liberal struck out 10 times in the loss.  Tanner King pitched four shutout innings striking out seven.
Fir the first time this season, the Bee Jays lose back to back games.  They finish 30-9.  The Express have won three straight since losing to Liberal on opening night.  They are 18-10.  The Bee Jays finish 2-2 at the NBC but have still been tormented by this tournament to the tune of 4-9 the past four seasons.