Broncbusters fall in conference opener

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-The Broncbusters couldn't hold an early lead.

Ben McLaughlin knocked in two runs, Sterling Sutcluffe hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth, and Hutchinson squeaked by Garden City, 4-3 in the Broncbusters' conference opener Friday afternoon at Williams Stadium. The loss dropped Garden City to 6-14-1 overall.

Even in the loss, Chris Finnegan's pitching staff held up well with starter Guillermo Gelpi allowing just two runs on six hits in 4.1 innings. He gave way to Caden Blair, who surrendered that fatal long ball before Raul Garcia tossed two innings of scoreless relief, striking out four.

After Gelpi worked out of trouble in both the first and second innings, Ryan Muniz provided his starter with a little breathing room, drilling a 1-0 pitch over the fence in right to begin the bottom of the second. Two innings later, Quinn Gundelfinger stretched the lead with a two-out, RBI single that put Garden City ahead 2-0.

But everything came crashing down in the fifth. After Gelpi struck out Kael Babin to begin the frame, Bryce Logan drew a five-pitch walk. Jack Torosian doubled, and once Finnegan went to his bullpen, McLaughlin tied the score with a two-run single. Two batters later, Sutcluffe took Blair deep, putting Hutchinson up, 4-2.

The Broncbusters made it a one-run game in the sixth when Muniz raced home on a passed ball. But with the tying run on, Gundelfinger flied out to left, and Konner Hatfield grounded out to second. In the seventh, Garden City had another chance to even things up after Hector Garcia Jr. drew a leadoff walk. But after Connor Camden advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt, Dylan Garcia and Will Gardner struck out swinging to end the game. 

Blue Dragons' starter, Jack Whitlock allowed two earned runs on five hits over 5.1, tallying his third victory of the season. McLaughlin finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Babin collected two hits.

Blair dropped to 0-1 for the Broncbusters, yielding two runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning. Muniz collected two hits, and Gundelfinger went 1-for-3 with an RBI.