Larks Strike Early in Rubber Game Win Over Liberal

The Hays Larks built a 6-1 lead after two innings on their way to a 9-5 win over the Liberal Bee Jays at Larks Park in Hays Thursday night.  The Larks take five of six over the BJ’s this season and hand Liberal their first series loss of July.

Liberal scored first when they loaded the bases with no outs in the first but only scored one on a Brady Cox ground out.  The Larks scored four in the first and two in the second against starter Reid Petty.  Liberal made it 6-2 when Owen Taylor doubled and RJ Williams singled him home in the fourth.  Donny Ortiz singled and scored on a wild pitch in the fifth.  Williams tripled to lead off the sixth and Cole Habig singled him home to make it 6-4.  Meanwhile Petty had settled down and pitched four straight scoreless innings.  But the Larks jumped on reliever Derek Craft for three in the seventh.  Liberal scored one more in the ninth when Kyle Knauth doubled, Cale O’Donnell doubled, and Cody Bogart scored Knauth with a ground out.

Liberal is 6-3 in the Jayhawk League’s second half while Hays is 5-4.  Liberal hosts the Haysville Aviators for a three game series Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights at 7.  Dugout shows at  6:45 on 1270 and kscbnews.net.  Bank of Beaver City is Friday’s buyout sponsor.