HAYS — Great Bend Panther baseball coach Randy Beck learned a hard lesson about the KSHSAA pitching regulations.

Great Bend was tied 3-3 with Hays Tuesday, but was forced to forfeit 7-0 to the Indians after Panther reliever Joey Souipset pitched to a batter in the fourth inning. 

Soupiset was scheduled to enjoy a 4-day rest period after a 90-pitch outing Friday against Liberal. 

Hays Indian Palmer Hutchison scored a tying fifth-inning run on an error on a groundball hit by Dylan Dreiling for a 3-3 tie.

Great Bend forfeited after umpires conferred with both coaches. Violation of the KSHSAA pitching rule requires a forfeit and Soupiset is declared ineligible until he is reinstated by the KSHSAA. Coach Beck is suspended and must be reinstated by the KSHSAA.  

Great Bend's Chance Perry singled home Koy Brack after an error and stolen base for a 1-0 lead after two innings. Hays Indian Cody Petersen ripped a third-inning home run for a 1-1 tie. 

Alex Schremmer singled and scored on Brack's fourth-inning groundball that was mishandled. Soupiset singled home Jesus Bujanda for a 3-1 lead.

Indian Dylan Dreiling singled, Josh Haynes singled and Justice Dotts hit Dreiling home with a fourth-inning sacrifice fly. Hutchison was hit by a pitch and scored when first baseman Jesus Bujanda was unable to corral a throw from shortstop Alex Schremmer for a 3-3 tie.    

Hays High (9-0, 3-0 WAC) takes control of the Western Athletic Conference while Great Bend (4-5, 1-2 WAC) plays at Garden City Friday.

Great Bend 010 20 — 3 3 0

Hays 001 11 — 3 5 2

Kurth, Soupiset (4), Hall (4) and Jess Bujanda. Riggs and Lummus. HR—H—Petersen.