Hays Post
HAYS - The Hays High baseball opened their season with a pair of thrilling come from behind wins Friday at Hays High School. The Indians used a big sixth inning to win game one 9-8. They rallied in the final two innings for a 5-3 victory in game two.
Hays High (2-0) is back at home Tuesday with a doubleheader against Washburn Rural at 4:00 p.m. at HHS.
Game 1: Hays 9, Liberal 8
Hays scored five runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to overcome a four-run deficit. Gage Porter tied the game at 7-7 with a two-out, three-run homer. Sophomore Carter Graham followed with a solo shot to give the Indians their first lead. After an error and a walk, Bradyn Dreher added an insurance run with a single to center.
Liberal opened the seventh with back-to-back doubles but Graham got a strikeout and fly out then another strikeout to end the game with the tying run at third base.
Dreher, Porter and Graham all had two hits, Porther hit two home runs and drove in four, Graham also homered and Dreher doubled.
Tanner Boxberger (1-0) picked up the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Graham recorded the final three outs for the save.
Game 2: Hays 5, Liberal 3
The Indians were held to only three hits but scored two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to rally from 3-1 deficit.
The Indians started the rally when Jack Wiemer reached on an error by LIberal's centerfielder which scored Gage Porter who tripled to lead off the inning. Weimer tied the game when he scored on a sacrifice fly from Lex Lummus.
Hays loaded the bases with one out in the sixth thanks to three errors. They scored two runs when the throw to first on a grounder from Bradyn Dreher was off the mark.
Carson Spray 1-0) picked up the win with two perfect innings of relief with two strikeouts.
Starter Nolan Dreher allowed three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks over five innings.