It was a weird offensive stat line for the Liberal Bee Jays.  Despite striking out 15 times, the Liberal Bee Jays also scored 12 runs on the way to a 12-1 run rule win over the Denver Cougars Friday night at Brent Gould Field.  It was the opening game of the three game series and four games the two teams will play against each other the next two weeks.

The Bee Jays scored first.  Ryota Kusumoto singled to lead off the inning.  He stole second and would later score on Tanner Gerosa’s two out line drive single to left.  The Cougars tied the game with a run in the fourth.  Liberal broke the game open with a five run bottom of the fourth.  Joel Roberts walked and stole second to begin the inning.  Then a Denver error opened the door for a big inning.  James Nolan singled home the lead run.  Tanner Gerosa launched a three run home run to left for the 5-1 lead.  Lane Snow singled home a run for the 6-1 lead.  Lane Snow’s sac fly in the sixth made it 7-1.  The Bee Jays scored five in the eighth to end it early.  Ben Merriman doubled home a run with a line drive to right center.  Miller Durham singled home a run.  Robert Orr hit a three run home run to left to end it with a run rule.

Denver had one run, four hits, and two errors.  Liberal had 12 runs, 10 hits, and one error.  Parker King pitched five strong innings for the win.  He struck out six and did not issue a walk.  Jason Davis worked three dominant innings with five strikeouts and no walks.  Miller Durham was 2-3 and Tanner Gerosa was 2-4 with four RBI’s.

Denver is 1-9 in the Rocky Mountain.  Liberal is 9-2 overall and 8-2 in the Rocky Mountain.  The same two teams meet Saturday night at 7pm at Brent Gould Field on 1270 and 92.3 with pre-game at 6:45.  Equity Bank is the buyout sponsor.  Kids who go to the free Bee Jay youth clinic Saturday morning at 10am and run the bases during the game Saturday night.