Garden City drops opener to Seward

By Mike Pilosof

Liberal, KS-Jordan Cordery tossed a one-hit shutout, Nissy Lechuga had a triple, two hits and two RBI, and Seward County blanked Garden City 9-0 at French Family Field.

The Saints got the scoring started in the first. After Miranda Nester tripled to begin the frame, Lechuga followed with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Three batters later, Ariel Denney plunked Emily Mojica with the bases loaded, and it was 2-0 Seward.

In the second, Luchuga and Jaci Oakley ripped back-to-back, run-scoring doubles, and Madeline Owen singled to push the lead to 5-0. An inning later, Nicole Nelson smashed a one-out, RBI double to the gap, Luchuga added another RBI base hit; followed by an Oakley's double, and Owen's single to center that put Seward up 9-0.

While the Saints offense was clicking, Cordery shutdown Garden City in the circle, limiting the Broncbusters to a one-out single by Gaby Hernandez in the top of the fifth. She retired nine out of the first 10 batters she faced, while striking out four and walking two.

Denney took the loss for Garden City, giving up eight earned runs on 10 hits in three innings. Brittany Dowell pitched an inning of scoreless relief.