Larks take 4 of 5 in Liberal

By The Hays Daily News

LIBERAL — After seeing their winning streak snapped at five games in Saturday’s first game of a doubleheader, the Hays Larks bounced back to win the second game, and then won Sunday’s series finale against Liberal in Jayhawk League action.

Hays (21-8 overall, 16-7 Jayhawk), which took four of five games against Liberal, will be at Dodge City tonight for a single game. The Larks lost Saturday’s opener 10-7 before winning the second game, 5-2. Hays blasted Liberal in Sunday’s getaway game, 12-1.

In Sunday’s game, Hays first baseman Dusty Washburn belted a grand slam, his second homer of the season, and drove in five runs. His homer in the fifth gave Hays a 7-1 lead. Third baseman Rich Michalek was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, and leadoff man Tyler Barnett also had three hits, with three runs scored and one RBI.

Brock Nehls (4-0) allowed one run on five hits in six innings, with one walk and four strikeouts.

In Saturday’s second game, Hays broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the sixth. The first two runs in the inning scored on a Liberal error, and Adam Muenster added an RBI double.

Michalek hit a pair of singles and drove in two runs. He also had two of Hays’ seven stolen bases.

Starter Bobby Lewton improved to 4-0, working 51â„3 innings, allowing two unearned runs on five hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Eric Rose got the last five outs for the save.

In Saturday’s opener, Hays starter Stave Mazur didn’t make it out of the first inning. Mazur (2-2) allowed eight runs on five hits, retiring just one batter.

Ricky Angel had three hits for Hays, including a pair of doubles, with two runs scored and one RBI. Eric Morrison and Michalek each had a pair of hits and an RBI each.