Hays Post
HAYS - Hays High has lost three games this season. Each of them have been by a single run after falling to undefeated Clay Center 5-4 and 3-2 on Friday.
Game 1: Clay Center 5, Hays 4
Hays held a 3-0 lead after scoring three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Corbin Werth and Johnny Cano were each hit by a pitch and in between Cooper Sanders drew a walk. Tiger Johnson drove in the game's first run on a sacrifice fly. Lex Lummus bunted home Sanders for a 2-0 advantage. Jack Weimer capped the scoring with a bunt single.
The Indians allowed runs in just one inning. Unfortunately for the home team it was five runs in the top of the fourth.
The Tigers scored two runs with one out following an error by the Indians. The next two batters were hit by a pitch to load the bases.
With two outs Clay Center tied the game at three runs on a wild pitch. Later in the same at-bat the Tigers scored two more runs on a single for a 5-3 lead.
Hays loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth but could not take advantage.
Hays made it a one run difference in the bottom of the seventh when Cano stole back-to-back bases with two outs and advanced home on an errant throw by the Tiger's catcher.
Hays though never threatened to tie the game falling 5-4. Brenden Stults suffered the loss. He went four innings allowing five runs but only one was earned. Stults struck out give, walked one and gave up four hits.
Game 2: Clay Center 3, Hays 2
Six errors by Hays was too much to overcome in a 3-2 loss to Clay Center to complete the sweep by the Tigers.
Hays drew three straight walks to open the bottom of the second inning. The Indians though only scored one run when Ian McGuire drove in Jack Weimer.
Clay Center scored two runs in the top of the third for a 2-1 lead. The Indians had three errors in the inning.
Carter Graham tied the game when he drove in Weimer in the bottom of the fourth.
Neither team scored until the eighth. The Indians opened the inning with an error and was later called for catcher's interference to load the bases. With two outs and the bases loaded a walk by the Indians drove in the decisive run.
Tanner Boxberger and Ian McGuire each pitched four innings. The loss goes to McGuire.
Hays falls to 9-3 on the season. They travel to Dodge City on Tuesday where they will try to win the Western Athletic Conference crown.
Clay Center remains perfect on the season at 12-0. The Tigers have thrown seven shutouts on the season and had allowed just eight runs all season heading into the double header in Hays.