The hits keep on coming

Liberal, Ks (westernkansasnews)-The Bee Jays celebrated the 4th of July with their own fireworks show. Liberal took advantage of a slew of free passes and a five-run sixth inning on their way to a 11-6 win over Dodge City Thursday night at Brent-Gould field. 

“We’re finally getting some breaks to go our way,” Bee Jays coach Brandon Kitch said. “We hit the ball pretty well tonight.”

But it wasn’t as much the hits as it was the bases on ball. Dodge City (10-18, 5-16) pitching issued seven walks including one in the first frame, which led to the first run scored of the game. The Bee Jays would score two in the inning. 

In the 2nd-Liberal (9-11) took advantage of Zach Redding’s leadoff double when Hasten Freeman threw a wild pitch, which allowed a run to score. 

Already up 6-0 after tacking on three runs in the 4th-the Bee Jays exploded in the 6th. The inning started with three straight walks by Freeman. After Quade Adams replaced the A’s starter, Tanner Rainey drew a one-out walk that scored Zach Reding. Then with two outs-Brady Capshaw slapped a two-run single that hit off of third baseman Dillon Englehart’s glove into left field. Liberal closed the scoring with an infield single by Seth Stevens that scored Tanner Rainey. 

The A’s would make things interesting with a six-run 8th inning, but would see their bases-loaded rally short circuited when Zach Jacobs flew out to right to end the inning. 

Pitching was the name of the game in this one; Bee Jays starter Chad Nack struck out twelve in seven masterful innings of work. 

“He (Nack) was an absolute bulldog on the hill tonight,” Kitch said. “He really got after it.”

Liberal is back home tonight for the first of two with Hays. Dodge City opens a two-game series with Fort Collins.