Liberal Squanders Early Opportunities in Loss to Heat

The Liberal Bee Jays left the brooms in the closet.  Looking for their second straight sweep to begin the second half schedule, the BJ’s fell to the Wellington Heat 3-2 Sunday night at Brent Gould Field.

The Bee Jays wasted early opportunities to score more as they had two runners thrown out at home in the first and a baserunner picked off between 1st and 2nd in the 2nd.  Liberal still scored one in the first as Cale O’Donnell grounded a single to left to score Brandon Urquizo.  The Heat scored two in the third and and one in the fifth to lead 3-1 against starter Tyler Giovanoni.  He takes the loss and finishes 3-1 in his last start for the BJ’s.  His college program is shutting him down for the rest of the summer.  Donny Ortiz blasted a home run to left center in the seventh to bring the BJ’s within one.  The BJ bullpen got the job done again as Derek Craft, Reid Petty, Lee Busto, and JB Olson went one inning a piece scoreless.  Liberal out hit the Heat 11-10 and the BJ’s had three errors.  Wellington stranded 14 runners on base.

Liberal loses for the first time in July falling to 5-1 and 13-14 overall in the Jayhawk while Wellington is 4-2 and 12-14 overall.

Liberal has Monday off and will play at Hays Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7 with coverage at 6:45 on 1270 and kscbnews.net.