By EARL WATT

• Leader & Times

Two Western Athletic Conference games slipped away from the Lady Redskins early in a home double header with Hays Tuesday.

Hays won the first game of the matinee twin bill 15-4 in six innings and routed Liberal in Game 2, 22-3 in four innings.

What was a competitive game for three innings turned in to a rout in the fourth in the first game.

Pat Knott relieved starting pitcher Jaycee Darroch with freshman Brittney Granger, but Liberal struggled to make plays when they had opportunities.

“We were trying to make a switch to keep the sticks away,” Knott said. “We tried to cut the explosion down of their offense. Hays swings the bats real well.”

Liberal was able to get runners on base, but three Lady Redskins were thrown out attempting to steal second.

“We had some miscommunication at the plate on the signs,” Knott said. “We had a bunt and run. Wherever the ball is we are going to try and do something. It was an up and out pitch.”

The Lady Redskins started Game two with a scoreless first inning and had two outs in the second before Hays reeled off four runs.

“Closing out an inning has been tough,” he said. “We had the opportunity to make the play and we are not doing it. And it’s not in one particular position.”

In an 11-1 game, the Lady Redskins scored two runs in the fourth and had the bases loaded with no outs. But a double play and groundout left the score at 11-3.

“That was a killer,” Knott said. “We should have had at least three more.”