Dodge City wins opener over Garden City

By Mike Pilosof

Dodge City, KS-Garden City's offense picked the wrong day to go silent.

Gianna Browdy hit a home run, Makayla Kolojoy limited Garden City to just four hits over five innings, and Dodge City topped the Broncbusters 12-2 Saturday afternoon at Legends Park.

And all it took was one big inning from the Conquistadors.

After Audrey Graf gave the Broncbusters the lead with a two-run homer in the first, Dodge City went ballistic in the second. The first seven Conquistadors reached base, and when Courtney Huff smashed an RBI double to the gap, Dodge City was up 8-2. The next batter, Daysha Mendez followed with a run-scoring single, and the home team had a seven-run cushion.

Garden City's offense neve regained traction.

The Broncbusters went down in order in the third; then spoiled a two-on, two-out situation when Zoee Canaday grounded out to end the top of the fourth. In the fifth, the Broncbusters again put two runners on. But the result was the same. Carley Powely struck out swinging, and Megan Walz flied out to right to end the game.

Meantime Dodge City added to their lead in the third. Karissa Avila sprinkled in a run-scoring ground out, and Alex Pacheco hit an RBI single to center. Then Browdy finished things off with a solo blast to begin the fourth.

Graf was the only offensive spark for Garden City, finishing 2-for-3 at the dish. The rest of the team was a combined 2-for-18 (.111) with nine strikeouts.

Kolojoy picked up the win in the circle for Dodge City, allowing two runs on four hits while throwing 91 pitches over five innings.