Redskin Defense Falters in Great Bend Losses

The 2021 Liberal Redskins continue to struggle defensively.  That was the case again and maybe predictably Friday with a north wind gusting to nearly 50 miles per hour for game one.  Temperatures dipped into the 40’s in game two. Great Bend swept Liberal 7-2 and 15-9 Friday night at the National Beef Family Sports Complex.  Liberal made five errors in game one and four errors in game two.  Great Bend made two errors in game one and four in game two.

In game one, Liberal took an early 2-0 lead.  Aaron Barboza led off the first with a triple to right and scored on an Izzy Garcia-Rotolo single.  In the third, Kwami Williams singled, Brooks Kappelmann bunted him over and Barboza grounded out to score him home.  But the Panthers scored two in the fourth and fifth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh as the Redskin bats fell silent for the rest of the game.  Liberal had just four hits.  Barboza pitched 5 and 2/3 innings allowing two earned runs with three strikeouts and one walk.  Oscar Rubio pitched two innings without allowing an earned run.

Great Bend and Liberal both scored in the first three innings of game two.  The Panthers scored two in the first.  Liberal added two in the first.  Aaron Archuleta provided and RBI single.  Liberal also reached on an error, a dropped third strike, and a walk.  Great Bend scored in the second and the Skins answered on an unearned run to tie it 3-3.  The Panthers scored one in the third.  Liberal scored two to take the lead 5-4 in the third.  Hunter Huskey singled with one out.  He scored after a GBHS error and Osar Rubio ground out.  Erick Baca lined a single over the shortstop for a 5-4 lead.  Great Bend scored three runs on three hits and an error in the fifth to lead 7-5.  The Panthers added four in the sixth to lead 11-5.  The Redskins battled back in the bottom of the sixth with four runs on no hits, an error, five walks, and a hit by pitch.  But Great Bend scored four runs on two hits and three Redskin walks in the seventh.  Great Bend out hit Liberal 12-8.  Shay Kerr was 2-4 with two runs in the loss.

Liberal is 4-3 and 0-3 in the WAC.  Great Bend is 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the WAC.  The Redskins host Dodge City Tuesday night at about 6 on 1270 and kscbnews.net.

Game 1 audio:

Game 2 audio: