BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

Great Bend's Rafael Chavez delivered the game-winning single for a thrilling 3-2 Western Athletic Conference baseball victory over Liberal Friday.

Trent Kern singled and reached second base on a throwing error. Chavez singled Kern home in the 8-inning affair that was delayed by lightning.

Great Bend (5-3, 2-2 WAC) has played six of eight games by one or two runs.

Panther pitcher Jaxon Wondra (3-0, 210 ERA) threw 22/3 shutout innings. Wondra has 16 strikeouts in 10 innings.

As a catcher, Wondra threw out Eathan Hernandez twice on steals. Back-up catcher Trent Kern followed suit by throwing out Evan Castillo Mendoza on an attempted steal.

Hard-luck starter Daxton Minton yielded zero earned runs in 51/3 innings with seven strikeouts before departing in a 2-2 tie.

Liberal scored two unearned third-inning runs. Castillo Mendoza was hit by a pitch and Hernandez reached on an error. Both runners scored on a second Panther error for a 2-0 lead.

The Panthers' bunting game produced both runs. Minton's sacrifice bunt advanced Gavin Wondra to second base after a single. Jaxon Wondra singled his brother home.

In the fourth, Kale Kern's sacrifice bunt advanced Chavez to third base. Chavez scored on Kaito Richter's successful squeeze bunt for a 2-2 tie.

Liberal 002 000 00 — 2 1 2

Great Bend 001 100 01 — 3 8 2

Morris and Betts. Minton, Jaxon Wondra (6) and J. Wondra, Trent Kern (6). W—J. Wondra, 3-0. L—Morris. 2B—GB—J. Wondra.