By Cort Reynolds

Liberty-Benton scored five first-inning runs and went on to defeat the visiting Bluffton High School baseball team 8-3 in a non-conference contest Wednesday evening, March 30.

The Pirates inched within 5-3 after three innings with the aid of two Eagle errors. But the hosts tacked on three runs in the fourth and fifth frames to put the game out of reach.

Eagle starter Trevin Lieb earned the pitching win and slapped an RBI single. He gave up just one hit and no runs over four innings, and struck out seven Pirates.

L-B knocked out 11 hits, while Bluffton collected six hits. 

Kerry Wright stroked two singles to lead the Pirate offense. Gavin Bogart and Jacob Granger both singled teammates home, while Tyler Cupples doubled in the other Bluffton run.

123 456 7 R H E

Blu  012 000 0 3 6 0

L-B  500 120 x 8 11 2

WP—Lieb LP—Coonfare 

2B-Cupples (B), Garlock (L-B), Boyd (L-B) 

Bluffton (0-2) is slated to play at L-B again Friday. The Pirates then host Van Buren Saturday, April 2.