Garden City takes game three from Hutch

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Hutchinson, KS-After dropping the first two games on Friday, Garden City responded in a big-time way on Saturday.

Ryan Muniz homered for the second straight day, Sage McMinn and Connor Camden each drove in two runs, and the Broncbusters edged Hutchinson, 14-13 at Hobart-Detter Field. Garden City improved to 7-15-1 overall and 1-2 in the Jayhawk.

The Broncbusters won the game despite blowing an early four-run lead. After Muniz's three-run homer and Quinn Gundlefinger's RBI double put the Broncbusters up 4-0 after a half inning, starter Peyton Walters gave it right back. The freshman walked the first two men he faced before surrendering a two-run double to Ben McLaughlin. Two batters later, Sterling Sutcliffe cleared the bases with one swing, drilling a two-run bomb that tied the game. That was followed by a pair of RBI singles by Kael Babin and Bryce Logan, which capped off a seven-run inning that saw the Blue Dragons send 10 guys to the plate. 

Garden City though put up their own big number in the third, scoring six runs, fueled by Camden's two-run double that put the Broncbusters back in front 10-7. But even that didn't stick because in the Blue Dragons' half, the home team responded with four of their own to take an 11-10 advantage.   

It remained that way until the seventh when the Broncbusters loaded the bases. Konner Hatfield was then plunked by a pitch to tie the game. But the Broncbusters wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead when both Joe Finder and Camden struck out to retire the side.

Garden City though finally put things away thanks to a three-run eighth. Geoff Marlow singled, Will Gardner reached on an error, Jake Wiley provided a pinch-hit base hit, and Muniz pushed the go-ahead run across with a fielder's choice. Sage McMinn then followed with a two-run double that gave the Broncbusters a 14-11 cushion. 

Hutchinson made things interesting again in the bottom half, trimming the lead to one. But Noah McCandless put the Blue Dragons on ice by striking out Daniel Bebee.

McCandless improved to 2-2 on the bump for Garden City, allowing one earned run on one hit in 1 2/3 innings. Walters, who started the game, yielded eight runs on six hits in just 2 2/3.

Brady Beverman was the losing pitcher, dropping his first contest of the season. He allowed three runs on three hits in 1 2/3.