Another Humdinger with Hays

A controversial runner’s interference call which resulted in the ejection of Hays manager Frank Leo was the key play in a 7-6 BJ win over the Larks Wednesday night at Brent Gould Field. With the BJ’s clinging to a 5-4 lead, Hays hit a ground ball to second baseman Ryan Walker. The ball got by Walker and into right field allowing two runs to score to make it 6-5 Hays with just one out. But runner’s interference was called causing a second out and the runners had to return to their base.

It was a see-saw game. Hays took a 2-0 lead in the second before Nicholls State’s Blake Bergeron blasted his first homerun of the summer to tie the game.

Texas-San Antonio’s Riley Good singled home a run in the fourth to give the Jays a 3-2 lead.

The Larks countered with two fifth inning runs to make it 4-3. Liberal plated two in the bottom of the inning when Bergeron led off the inning with a double. Hays through a bunt away at third allowing a run to score. Yavapai’s Dean Friedberg drove home a run on a ground out to make it 5-4 Liberal. That score stood through the controversial Hays seventh.

The Bee Jays added insurance in the eighth when Texas-Arlington’s Greg McCall delivered a clutch two out, two RBI single up the middle to make the score 7-4.

Hays Mackensie Handel blasted a two run homer in the ninth off BJ closer Cale Elam to make it 7-6, but the Bee Jays would hold on.

Bergeron was 2-2 with a homer and two RBI’s. Northwood’s Eddie Arroyo and Yavapai’s Dean Friedberg were both 2-4.

The Jays used five pitchers with Midland’s Tyler Rockafellow starting the game and going four and two-thirds and allowing four runs. Hawaii’s Brent Harrison pitched two more scoreless innings out of the bullpen. San Diego’s Nick Youpel broke out his knuckle ball with two-thirds scoreless. Texas-Arlington’s Kasey Merck bridge the gap to Elam with a scoreless eighth.

Liberal is 11-2 and 4-2 in the Jayhawk which places them in first place. Hays is 6-4 overall and 3-3 in the Jayhawk. The Bee Jays go on the road for the first time Friday to begin a three game series at defending league champion Haysville. The games Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will air on Talkradio 1270 and kscbnews.net.