BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Liberal's dominating pitching struck out 17 Great Bend Bat Cats in a 6-3 baseball victory Friday at Al Burns Memorial Field.
The Bat Cats scrapped out three runs without virtue of an RBI for a 3-3 tie though five innings. But the 17 strikeouts in 27 outs were too much for the offense to overcome.
Bat Cat Alex Rodgers doubled and scored on a first-inning wild pitch. Jake Baker doubled and scored on a second-inning passed ball. Brady Michel walked and scored on a fourth-inning error.
Bat Cat pitcher Joe Richter threw two shutout innings. Liberal touched up reliever Jayden Saylor for a 3-3 tie after five innings. Kade Brewer's bloop double scored Cayde Ward. Brewer scored on a wild pitch. Jack Malone singled home Nate White.
The Bee Jays scored two runs off Great Bend native Brayden Smith from Emporia State. Malone doubled home Aidan Shepardson in the sixth inning. Brewer singled home Bryce Donovan after two walks and a seventh-inning wild pitch for a 5-3 lead. Donovan was hit by a pitch, stole second base, advanced on an error and scored on an eighth-inning wild pitch for a 6-3 lead.
Liberal starter Hayden Arnold struck out seven batters and reliever Payton Strambler from New Mexico struck out six batters. Bat Cat Alex Rodgers and Seth Kenagy walked in the eighth inning, but Strambler retired Trent Touchet on a fly ball and struck out Brady Michel to strand the tying runner on base.
Liberal 000 301 101 – 6 11 2
GB Bat Cats 110 100 000 – 3 4 2
Arnold, Johnson (4), Strambler (7) and Brewer. Richter, Saylor (3), Smith (6), Peters (7) and Touchet. W–Johnson. L–Smith, 0-1. SV–Strambler. 2B–BC–Rodgers, Baker; L–Malone, Ward, Brewer.
