EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
After knocking off Dodge City 3-1 in a seven-inning non-league game at Brent Gould Field Monday, the Bee Jays traveled to Hays in a key two-game series with the Larks, and after a rough opener, the Bee Jays took Game 2 to preserve their spot in first place in the Rocky Mountain League.
Hays scored early Tuesday and had a 6-0 lead after the second inning.
Hays added another run in the fourth and five more in the fifth to take a 12-0 lead.
The Bee Jays finally broke through in the sixth with a pair of runs, but the Larks added one more in the bottom of the sixth, and after the Bee Jays were shut out in the top of the seventh, the game ended by run rule, 13-2.
Robert Orr homered in the loss.
Matt Cormier and Orr led the Bee Jays at the plate with two hits each.
Luke Steward suffered the loss on the mound, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out five.
The Bee Jays committed two errors in the loss while the Larks had none.
Hays started Thursday’s game the way they ended the game on Tuesday by pushing two runs across the plate in the first inning for the early 2-0 lead.
But the Bee Jays responded with three runs in the fourth to take a one-run lead.
Hays tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bee Jays had a breakout inning in the seventh with five runs.
The Larks cut the lead to 8-4 with a run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Bee Jays added an insurance run in the eighth and did not allow another run the rest of the way in a 9-4 win.
Orr continued to launch the long ball with two home runs and six RBIs in the win.
Cormier, Durham and Ben Merriman also had two-hit games in the win.
Brooks Kappelmann came on in relief of J. Doerr after six innings and earned the win by pitching two innings and allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out one.
Logan Wade pitched a scoreless ninth.
The Bee Jays host the Rough Riders Friday and Saturday.
