Broncbusters top Colby in thriller

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Colby, KS-What a resilient bounce-back performance by Amy Schmeckpeper's team in game two.

Alexis Maestretti smashed two home runs, Ryanna Johnson and Alanna Neilsen also went yard, and Garden City outlasted Colby 14-12 in Thursday's finale. The Broncbusters improved to 11-17 overall and 5-7 in the Jayhawk.

Garden City scored in every inning but the second and third. They even survived a six-run Colby fourth by answering with a five-run sixth.

Rogers RBI single, Lacey Kearsley's run-scoring double, and Savanna Griebling's RBI base hit gave the Broncbusters a 3-0 lead after a half inning. 

Once Colby stormed back to take a 4-3 advantage, Maestretti opened the fourth with a solo home run, Reid singled, and Garden City was back on top, 5-4.

The Trojans responded again with six in the fourth, fueled by a pair of homers, one by Jennifer Williams and the other by Shailey Clark that put the home team up 10-5. After Neilsen's three-run job in the fifth cut Colby's lead to two, Allison Westbrook tattooed a two-run shot in the bottom half to stretch the Trojan cushion to 12-8.

After that, the Broncbusters finally turned off the faucet and allowed the offense to go to work. Maestretti homered again-dropping a three-run bomb over the fence in right in the sixth, which was followed by Johnson's two-run homer four batters later that gave Garden City the lead for good. 

Garden City slugged out 16 hits en route to their most impressive win of the season. Maestretti drove in four runs, and Reid struck out four.

Alexa Wade, who notched a win in the opener, took the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 for Colby.

Next up: Garden City vs. Butler-Saturday, March 26-1 p.m. and 3 p.m.