For a second night in a row a late rally by the Hays Larks falls short and they lose in Liberal. Last night Chandler-Gilbert’s Mackenzie Handel hit a two-out, two-run homer in the top of the ninth but Hays falls short 7-6.

Handel was involved in what may have been the key play of the game. He was called out for interference in the seventh inning when Liberal second baseman Eddie Arroyo booted a grounder which would have scored two.

Handel and Southeastern Louisiana’s Cody Gougler both had three hits. Handel drove in three and new leads the team with 17 RBI’s. Howard Junior College’s Rick Stover hit a two-run homer. Chandler-Gilbert’s Malcom Purdy pitched two innings of relief and takes the loss.

The Larks are now 6-4 and 3-3 in the Jayhawk League. They return home tonight for a non-league game with Topeka before hitting the road this weekend for three in El Dorado. We’ll have tonight’s game on KAYS beginning at 6:40pm.