Bee Jays Take Houston to Funky Town

Aaron Funk was utterly dominant as the Liberal Bee Jays took their first steps out of the NBC doldrums.  The right hander from the University of Little Rock struck out 14 in seven innings in Liberal’s 9-5 win over the Houston Express late Monday night into Tuesday morning at the NBC World Series at Hutchinson’s Hobart Detter Field.  It’s Liberal’s first win in the NBC opener since 2016 when they beat Laurel, Mississippi was 17-1.
The Bee Jays scored in the first when Kade Brewer singled up the middle with two outs.  Cayde Ward then roped an RBI double over the right fielder to score Brewer.  Liberal stranded two runners on base in both the second and third innings.  The BJ’s scored again in the fifth when the first two runners reached on three Express errors resulting in a BJ run and 2-0 lead.  Ward launched his fourth home run of the year into the night and over the left field fence for a two run shot and a 4-0 lead.  With two outs in the sixth, Jack Malone short hopped the fence in right center for a triple.  He scored on a wild pitch for a 5-0 lead.  Houston struck the BJ bullpen for four in the eighth to make it 5-4.  The BJ’s responded with four on the bottom of the eighth.  Aidan Shepardson walked to lead off the inning.  AJ Folds the doubles over the shortstop.  Nate White grounded out to drive home a run and make it 6-4.  Caeden Trenkle lifted a sac fly to left for the 7-4 lead.  Ward whistled a two RBI double to left to make it 9-4.  Houston hit a homer in the ninth.
Funk improved to 6-0 with the win.  Eric Herman went 2/3 allowing four.  Payton Strambler pitched 1 and 1/3 for his sixth save.   He allowed  one run.  Ward was 3-3 with five RBI’s.  The game started at. 10:25 and ended and 1:28.  Liberal is 29-7, equaling last year’s win total.  Houston is 15-10.  The Bee Jays face the Hutchinson Monarchs in Hutchinson Tuesday night at 6 on 1270 and kscbnews.net.