Broncbusters lose on error in the ninth

By Mike Pilosof

Clarendon, TX-The Broncbusters are hoping that some early-season lumps will pay off when conference play begins in two weeks.

In the meantime, there's still some stuff to cleanup.

Leo Jiminian had two hits and Garden City committed four errors, including one that cost them the game in the ninth, as the Bulldogs beat the Broncbusters 3-2 on Tuesday afternoon.

The loss spoiled a solid outing from starter Rhett Halstead.

The freshman, who took a medical redshirt last year after shoulder problems plagued him throughout his senior campaign, was fantastic, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out a season-high seven batters. He retired the side in order in the first, worked around a one-out single in the second, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third by getting JC Reed to pop out, and induced two double plays, one of which ended the bottom of the fifth. Halstead worked a 1-2-3 sixth before being pulled with one out in the seventh.

Meantime Garden City broke open a scoreless game in the fourth when Tommy Alitz came across on a wild pitch by Andrew Alonzo. But the Bulldogs struck back in the seventh thanks to Jiminian, who ripped a two-out, two-run single that put Clarendon in front 2-1.

The Broncbusters evened things up in the top of the eighth. Halstead singled, and Darrian Escobar-Winter walked. Lance Allred, who was courtesy running, took third on a wild pitch; then came home on Jake Barber's sacrifice fly. But with two on and one out and a chance to take the lead, Ibrahim Rodriguez struck out swinging.

Garden City also missed an opportunity to go in front in the ninth with runners at first and second. This time it was Leonel Anaya who waved at a Nico Yglesia breaking ball to retire the side.

The Broncbusters never got another chance.

Chris Finnegan's hopes of a second-consecutive win rode on the back of one his top starting pitchers, Connery O'Donnell, who replaced Shane Miller in the eighth. But in the ninth, after getting Dawerlyn Amancio to ground out to begin the inning, he gave up a single to Edwin Santana and a walk to Dennis Ortiz. Santana then took third on a wild throw by O'Donnell; then scored moments later after second basemen Turner McDonald misplayed Jiminan's ground ball. Game over.

Yglesia picked up the win for Clarendon, striking out five in two innings of relief. He surrendered just one run on one hit.

Finley and Rodriguez each collected two hits for Garden City, who have lost six out of their last seven games.