Garden City falls behind early; can't catch up in loss to Dodge

By Mike Pilosof

Dodge City, KS-Garden City was playing catchup right from the start.

Dodge City outhit the Broncbusters 16-12 and stole eight bases, Gianna Browdy homered for the second straight game, and the Conquistadors polished off their second consecutive run-rule victory: a 16-8 win over Garden City Saturday afternoon at Legends Park.

And Dodge City went right after Broncbuster starter Madison Biller in the first.

The sophomore hurler gave up a single and pair of walks to begin the inning. Allie Hufford followed with a sacrifice fly, Daysha Mendez doubled home a run, and Browdy hit a sinking liner into center that plated one, putting Dodge City up 4-0.

But unlike the opener, the Broncbusters' offense sprung to life in the second. Megan Walz and Vivian Lopez singled, setting the table for McKayla Encinias, who smoked a three-run home over the wall in center to cut Dodge City's lead to 4-3.

But as quickly as the Broncbusters made it a game, was as fast as Dodge City answered in their half of the second. Lopez and Ellie Walters committed back-to-back errors that allowed a pair of runs to score, Mendez followed with an RBI double, and the Conquistadors were up 7-3.

Garden City trimmed the deficit again in the third. Carley Powley drilled a one-out home run to right, and Walters produced with an RBI groundout, pulling the road squad within two. Then after Kaylee Rogers set Dodge City down in order in the home half, the Broncbusters tied things up in the fourth. Zoee Canaday doubled home a run to left; then came around on a passed ball to knot the score. But the threat ended there. Powley flied out to left, and Rogers was called out for tagging early from first.

Dodge City made Garden City pay for that missed opportunity.

Browdy hit her second homer of the series in the bottom half, Jessica Espinoza doubled home two, and Alex Pacheco collected an RBI base hit to make it 12-7. Once Garden City cut the deficit to four with Megan Walz's solo home run in the fifth, the Conquistadors put the game away with four runs in their half. The final blow: Pacheco's RBI single to center that induced the run rule.

Biller had a rough day for Garden City, lasting just 1 1/3 innings. She gave up seven runs on four hits and walked five. She gave way to Rogers, who surrendered nine runs on 12 hits in 3 1/3. The Broncbusters did bounce back offensively, hitting three home runs while collecting 12 hits.

Jessica Espinoza picked up the win in relief for Dodge City, allowing one run on two hits over two innings. She also helped out her own cause, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored.  

Note: Garden City's doubleheader Sunday with Trinidad State has been postponed. No makeup date has been announced.