Garden City blasts North Platte again

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Vernon, TX-Audrey Graf has been terrific to start the 2020 campaign. Saturday's opener was no exception.

The sophomore hit another double and drove in two runs, Kaylee Rogers had a three-hit day, and Garden City beat North Platte 11-7.

And the Broncbusters had to do it by coming from behind again.

The Plainsmen scored first in the top of the second when Sienna Pfaff doubled home a pair off of Rogers. They tacked on another run in the third on Jace Cundiff's sacrifice bunt.

But the Broncbusters got rolling in the bottom of the fourth. Rogers doubled to center, Kenzie Moore was hit by a pitch, and Elisabeth McGill ripped a two-run double to the gap in left. Vivian Lopez followed with an RBI triple, Gaby Hernandez and Graf powered run-scoring doubles, and Madison Biller and Rogers slapped RBI singles to make it 7-3.

Garden City added to their lead in the fifth. With two on and one out, Hernandez lofted a ball over center fielder, Megan Hernandez's head, bringing Lopez home. Graff added a sac fly, and Biller hit a shallow bloop into left to plate Hernandez, making it 10-3.

After North Platte scored a run in the top of the sixth, the Broncbusters answered in the bottom half with Ellie Walters run-scoring extra base-hit.

The Plainsmen managed to rally in the seventh, loading the bases on two singles and an error. That set the table for Alea Binkly, who pushed two runs across after hitting a sharp grounder that Walters misplayed at third. Three batters later, Brittany Bui singled to make it 11-7. But that's when reliever, Megan Walz, settled down, getting Hernandez to ground out to first to end the game.

Rogers picked up the win in the circle for Garden City, allowing just one earned run on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. She struck out three and walked one. Lopez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in the nine-hole, Hernandez collected two hits and drove in two, and Biller knocked in a pair as well.

Taylor Coleman took the loss for North Platte, allowing seven runs on nine hits in four innings.