Silent Assassins Strike Again

After two come from behind wins at Hays last month BJ manager Brandon Kitch dubbed his team the silent assassins. They showed that ability to hang around in a game and strike late Friday night in Derby in a 6-5 win at Panther Field in Derby. The BJ’s trailed 5-1 heading into the 8th. Stephen Gandy’s clutch single to right center in the ninth gave the BJ’s their only lead of the night shocking the Derby Twins.

Derby scored two in the third before OCU’s Johnathan Sigado blasted his team leading fourth homer over the center field wall in the fifth to make it 2-1. Liberal had runners on first and second with no outs but didn’t score again. The Twins scored after two BJ errors in the fifth to give the run right back. The Twins made it 5-1 with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Liberal scored four in the eighth to tie it. After a Dayne Parker walk and a Jake Barrios infield single, the BJ’s finally chased starter Shawn Talkington who pitched seven solid innings. Rainey would walk to load the bases with no outs. Lousiana Tech’s Stephen Gandy singled to left to score Parker and Barrios scored after the ball bounced by the Derby left fielder. OCU’s Johnathan Sigado grounded out to first but drove home a run. UTA’s Derek Miller came through with a clutch two out double to right center to make it 5-5.

Liberal scored the decisive run in the ninth when Jake Barrios reached on a Derby error. Gandy singled to right center with two outs to score Barrios and give the BJ’s the lead and their fifth unanswered run.

Derek Miller led Liberal’s hitting attack going 3-4 with an RBI. Travis Sibley was 3-5.

The hits were even in the game at 12 a piece and Liberal won despite three errors.

Cal Irvine’s Sebastian Santos pitched five innings allowing three runs. Trevor Lundgren (1-1) earned the win pitching 1 and 2/3 scoreless innings and John Branum pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.

Liberal is 20-8 overall and 14-8 in the Jayhawk League as Derby falls to 12-16 overall and 11-14 in the Jayhawk.

Elsewhere in the Jayhawk Friday night, Dodge City won 13-10 at El Dorado and Haysville held off Hays 3-2 in Haysville.

Liberal plays at Derby again Saturday night at 7 p.m. on Talkradio 1270 and kscbnews.net.

Standings

Dodge City 14-7

Liberal 14-8

Hays 12-10

Derby 11-14

El Dorado 10-15

Haysville 9-16