Garden City can't hold early lead; loses to Dodge City

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Dodge City, KS-Jessica Espinoza collected two hits, Samantha Montano allowed just two runs in the circle, and Dodge City came from behind to beat Garden City 4-2 Sunday afternoon at Legends Park.

The Broncbusters struck first in the first. Madison Biller drew a leadoff walk, and Gaby Hernandez ripped a one-double to put Garden City up 1-0. The road team had a chance to add a little cushion after Kaylee Rogers singled. But Audrey Graf struck out swinging, and Madison Brasher grounded to the pitcher.

Dodge City responded in the bottom half, getting a single from Jessica Espinoza to start the frame. After a groundout, Alex Pacheco walked, which was followed up by Lexy Perez's sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1.

The Conquistadors took the lead for good in the second when Haley Bass pushed a base hit up the middle that plated one. In the third, Biller surrendered a single and a walk before Courtney Huff smacked an RBI single to make it 3-1.

Garden City chipped away in the fourth. Graf reached on a dropped third strike. Then, with two outs, Vivian Lopez hit a hot shot up the middle for a base hit to score one. But the Broncbusters failed to score again, and Dodge City added an insurance run in the bottom half on Pacheco's sac fly that stretched the lead to 4-2.

Meantime Montano was dealing over the final three innings, yielding just two Broncbuster hits: Ariel Denny's single in the fifth and Rogers base hit in the top of the sixth. She retired eight out of the final 10 batters she faced.

Biller took the loss in the circle, allowing four runs on six hits while throwing 124 pitches. She struck out six and walked five.