By DUSTIN ARMBRUSTER
Hays Post

It took a total of nine innings on Tuesday afternoon for Hays softball to sweep Liberal. Both teams had played road games on Monday, with Liberal making the their second trip in two days.

Game 1: Hays 17, Liberal 1 (Four innings)

Liberal opened the game with a single run in the first inning. It would be their last of the game. Hays responded back with one of their own in the first inning and then three in the second to grab the lead for good. Hays ended the game after scoring 13 runs in the bottom of the fourth. The decisive runs came on a two run home run by Albany Schaffer to invoke the run-rule.

In the decisive fourth inning Hays sent 15 batters to the plate with all nine scoring at least one run. Madison Prough and Kacie Brous each scored three runs, Tessa Stickel, Albany Schaffer, Kylie Brown, and Shannon Schumacher each scored two. Brous was also 3-3 at the plate while Schaffer also recorded three hits and drove in four runs.

Kaitlyn Brown took the four inning victory allowing just two hits, walking five and walking two. Brown evens her record out at 3-3.

Coach Erin Wagner

Highlights

Game 2: Hays 12, Liberal 2 (Five innings)

Game two started the same way the first game did with each team scoring a single run in the first inning. Hays took the lead in the bottom of the third scoring two. The Indians did the rest of the damage in the fourth, scoring five runs then added four runs in the fifth. All of the nine runs in the final two innings came with two outs.

Hays also won the game in a most unusual fashion, scoring three runs on a passed ball that never left the infield. A pitch got away from the Liberal catcher allowing Albany Schaffer to score. In an effort to throw out Schaffer, the catcher’s throw went under the glove of the pitcher into foul territory where the first baseman also missed played it allowing Nicole Dinkel and Kylie Brown to score for the final margin.

Kylie Brown, Mackenzie Fagan, and Kacie Brous led the way with two hits a piece. Schaffer, Dinkel and Brown each scored three runs. Brown also drove in four runs.

Jaysa Wichers struck out eight and walked just one four her fourth victory of the season.

Hays improves to 8-8 on the season and 4-2 in Western Athletic Conference play. Hays will finish the season at Garden City May 10th.