Broncbusters rally from three down to beat Southeast

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-Malachi Crone didn't have his best stuff, but the offense had his back.

While the sophomore was up and down for most of the day, Tommy Alitz delivered when it mattered most, driving in the game-winning run on a walk-off sacrifice fly in the seventh as Garden City topped Southeast 6-5 Saturday afternoon at Williams Stadium.

Crone found himself in trouble right from the start. With one out, Garrett Olsen reached on the right-handed hurler's error. The next batter, Cooper Prososki, mashed a triple to deep center, and Southeast was up 1-0.

The score stayed that way until the third, when the Broncbusters used a two-out rally to even things up. Dakota Finely singled to left, and Jean Barreto, who started the inning by earning a free pass, scored on an error by pitcher, Garrett Witcher.

But the game didn't stay tied for long. In the top of the fourth, the Storm put the first two men on against Crone. That setup Cameron Blossom, who bunted home a run thanks to Ibrahim Rodriguez's miscue at third. Then Zach Breeden, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning, scored on a passed ball, Blossom came around on a wild pitch, and Southeast was up 4-1.

Garden City responded quickly in the bottom half. Darrian Escobar-Winter forced his way on with a one-out walk, and Tyler Barth doubled him home. With two outs, Barth came around on a wild pitch, cutting the Storm lead to 4-3. The Broncbusters then took control in the sixth. Barth doubled for the second time; then scored on an error by second baseman Hagen Escoto. Jake Barber Followed with an RBI single, and Garden City led 5-4.  

But the bullpen couldn't hold the lead. With two outs in the top of the seventh, Damian Acosta issued back-to-back walks. After bouncing back with a pair of strikeouts, the sophomore reliever served up an RBI single to Brenden Andersen, tying the game at 5.

That setup the drama in the bottom of the inning.

Rodriguez singled; then moved to third on a fielder's choice. After Escobar-Winter was hit by a pitch, Alitz lifted a ball deep enough into left to score the game-winning run.

Acosta picked up the win for Garden City, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts in one inning. Crone finished the day with six k's, but gave up four unearned runs in four innings. Barth was 2-for-2 with a  pair of doubles.

Evan Sanders took the loss for Southeast, surrendering three runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Next up: Garden City vs. Southeast-Sunday, Feb. 9-12 p.m. and 2 p.m. CDT