Broncbuster offense shutdown in first conference tilt

Hutchinson, KS-Ethan Giesbrecht had it working for Hutchinson.  

The Canadian struck out seven and allowed just one hit (a Brett Barber single in the top of the first), Colin Cymbalista and Luis Pimentel-Guerrero each homered, and the Blue Dragons blanked Garden City, 10-0 in five innings Wednesday afternoon at Hobart-Detter Field.  

Broncbuster starter Jace Reid was tagged for five earned runs on four hits in just two innings. He surrendered two long balls as Garden City dropped to 2-16 overall and 0-1 in Jayhawk Conference play.  

Cymbalista, Pimentel-Guerrero, and Cody Gunderson (the two, three, and four hitters) combined to go 7-for-10 with seven RBI and five runs scored for Hutchinson, which improved to 13-4 overall and 1-0 in league action.

But this day belonged to Giesbrecht, who retired the final 13 men he faced. He struck out both Wyatt Anderson and Brittain Brewer on a nasty curveball in the second; then fanned Steven Mesa on an 82-mph changeup in the third. In inning later, (Brett) Barber was called out on strikes on a fastball that painted the corner before he got Anderson swinging for a second time during a 1-2-3 fifth inning. In all, the sophomore needed only 56 pitches to dispose of Garden City.  

Meantime, the Blue Dragon offense wasted little time in setting the tone. Cymbalista and Pimentel-Guerrero went back-to-back off Reid in the first with Cymbalista blasting a two-run bomb to left field. Moments later, Pimental-Guerrero deposited a Reid slider over the wall in left-center, putting the home team up, 3-0.  

In the second, Pimental-Guerrero struck again, this time ripping an RBI double to the power alley. Two batters later, Tyson Vassart was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and the Blue Dragons had a six-run advantage. 

Hutchinson then put the game away in the fifth. With two on and one out, Pimental-Guerrero singled home a pair. After Cymbalista stole third, Gunderson hit a sacrifice fly to shallow right to induce the run rule.  

Giesbrecht improved to 3-1 on the year, facing only 16 batters. 38 of his 56 pitches landed in the strike zone.