Broncbuster offense struggles in game-one loss to Seward

By Mike Pilosof

Garden City, KS-One big inning decided things in Thursday's conference opener.

Ayanna Clemons scored twice and drove in two runs, Ireland Caro allowed just five hits in seven innings, and Seward County used a four-run 5^th to push past Garden City 6-2 at Tangeman Sports Complex.

But for the most part, this was an evenly played game between longtime conference rivals, which produced a pitcher's duel at the start.  

Lacey Kearsley worked around a one-out single and walk in the 1^st to strike out Emily Mojica before getting Jacie Scott to fly out to left. In the 2^nd, the freshman worked out of a bases-loaded jam with an off-speed pitch that got Scott to ground out into an inning-ending force play. But Kearsley's luck finally ran out in the 3^rd when she issued two free passes before surrendering a two-out, two-run single to Ashley Low that put the Saints in front 2-0.

It stayed that way until the 4^th when Nya Chacon singled and scored on Alexis Maestretti's RBI groundout. But the Saints added to their lead in the 5^th. Kearsley served up back-to-back doubles to Jaci Oakley and Mojica; then yielded a two-run single to Clemons that made it 4-1. Two batters later Alondra Galindo singled home a run before Melissa Crisanti's sacrifice fly put Seward County ahead 6-1.

The Broncbusters were shut down in the 5^th and 6^th before Maestretti ended the silence with a solo shot in the 7^th. But Garden City went in order after that.

Kearsley dropped to 2-5 in the circle this season giving up six runs on seven hits in seven innings. She struck out six and walked four. McKayla Encinias went 2-for-3 at the plate, but the rest of the team combined to go just 3-for-24.

Clemons collected two hits for the Saints, which snapped a four-game losing streak.