Garden City outlasts Pratt for third straight win

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-In Wednesday's finale, the Broncbusters proved they can win in many different ways.  

Nya Chacon homered for the second straight game, Tara Reid picked up her second win of the day, and Garden City outlasted Pratt, 16-11 Wednesday afternoon at Tangeman Sports Complex. It was the Broncbusters third straight victory, improving to 19-25 overall and 12-12 in conference. 

Garden City appeared to be cruising along, building a 5-0 lead after two innings. But the Beavers responded with a three-run third and four more in the sixth to knot the score 7-7. Garden City answered in the home half with Alexis Maestretti's RBI single to put the Broncbusters back in front. An inning later, Chacon drilled a 1-1 rise ball over the wall in center, a line-drive two-run bomb that gave the Broncbusters an 11-7 edge. 

Pratt though came storming back again. Kendra Bay smashed a two-run double in the sixth followed by Aspen Warren's two-run dinger that tied the game once more.  

But the Broncbusters took the lead for good a half inning later. Savanna Griebling reached based on a dropped third strike, Alanna Neilsen drew a six-pitch walk, and Elycia Johnson was hit by a pitch. The next batter, Reid, drew a bases-loaded free pass, Ryanna Johnson singled home two, and Chacon lined a double to right field to make it 16-11.

Reid won her eighth game of the year in the circle, pitching 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits. Chacon was 4-for-5 with five RBI, and (Ryanna) Johnson knocked in four.

Bay was tagged for 16 runs on 12 hits for Pratt, which lost for the seventh time in their last eight games.