Garden City drops heartbreaker to Hutch in extras

By Mike Pilosof

Hutchinson, KS-This one definitely stings.

Taylor Ullery went yard, Sabrina Luttig hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth, and Hutchinson topped Garden City in extra innings 5-4 Wednesday afternoon at Fun Valley.

The Broncbusters got on the board first in the top of the first when Madison Biller and Ariel Denney came around to score on an error by Caitlin Schumacher at short.

Hutchinson took the lead in the second. Shelby Felvus singled home two, and Ullery smashed a two-run homer to put the Blue Dragons up 4-2.

The score stayed that way until the fifth when the Broncbusters put together a two-out rally. Audrey Graf singled to left, Kaylee Rogers doubled to the gap, and Gaby Hernandez cranked a two-run single to knot the score at 4.

Garden City went in order in the sixth and seventh innings; then failed to score after Hernandez led off the eighth with a single to right. Vivian Lopez grounded into a force out, Madison Brasher popped out, and Megan Jankiewicz struck out to end the frame. An inning later, the Broncbusters again got their leadoff man on when Biller singled to left. Denney moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Garden City was in business. But the threat was averted when Brittany Dowell and Graf grounded out.

That set things up for Hutchinson in their half of the ninth. Ullery led off with a double; moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Way; then trotted home once Luttig single to right, snapping the Blue Dragons' four-game losing streak.

Denney took the loss for Garden City, giving up one run on two hints in 1.2 innings.

Maryssa Rollin was the winning pitcher for Hutchinson, holding Garden City scoreless the final 4.1 innings.