GRANT COHEN - NBC Baseball Media Relations
HUTCHINSON, Kan. - Behind 14 strikeouts from Liberal’s Aaron Funk, the Bee Jays defeated the Houston, TX Express 9-5 on Monday night at Hobart-Detter Field.
Liberal’s Cade Ward led the offensive charge for the Bee Jays, coming up with three hits and five RBIs in all three of his at-bats. Express pitcher Brad Wilcott recorded seven strikeouts in five innings pitched, with Funk only allowing two hits in seven innings pitched.
After getting the go-ahead run in the first inning, Liberal added insurance in the bottom of the fifth inning by getting runs off a fielding error and a home run by Ward.
The Bee Jays scored another run in the bottom of the sixth inning off a wild pitch to make their lead 5-0.
The Express looked to claw their way back with four runs in the top of the eighth inning, but Liberal matched Houston with four runs of their own a half-inning later. Houston managed to come up with one more run in the top of the ninth, but the Bee Jays took care of business in the last half-inning to collect the win.
Liberal returns to Hutchinson on Tuesday to face the Hutchinson Monarchs at 6 p.m. The Express will play at Eck Stadium in Wichita on Wednesday, with the opponent and game time to be determined.