Colby takes opener from Garden City

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-It was a game filled with untimely miscues.

Ashley Hathaway and Kaylee Christiansen homered, Garden City committed a season-high nine errors, and Colby routed the Broncbusters 13-3 in a five-inning run rule Wednesday afternoon at Tangeman Sports Complex.

The Trojans put together a five-run first inning, chasing starting pitcher Kaylee Rogers early. Laynie Gillins singled home a run, Christiansen followed with a sacrifice fly, and Sarah Sheppard hit a hot shot back at Rogers, who misplayed it on the infield allowing another run to score.

After Carley Powley got the Broncbusters on the board in the bottom half with a two-run double to left, Colby quickly extended the lead in the second when Hathaway took Rogers deep, over the centerfield wall for a 6-2 advantage. An inning later, Christiansen smashed Megan Walz's 2-2 fastball over the fence in center. That was followed by two more Broncbuster errors that stretched the Trojans lead to 10-2.

Garden City silenced Colby for a moment in the fourth when Madison Biller crushed a solo shot. But that was the extent of the Broncbuster offensive highlights.

Colby finished things off with three more runs in the fifth-powered by Makenna Pendergrass's two-run triple. Garden City then went down in order in the home half.

Rogers allowed six runs (two earned) while giving up a homer in the second inning for Garden City. She threw just 36 pitches. Walz went four innings, allowing seven runs (one earned). McKayla Encinias finished 2-for-3 at the plate.

Sophia Nduwayo went 3-for-3 at the plate for Colby while Maysa Averett struck out six in 4 2/3 innings.