Garden City edges Seward in game one

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Garden City, KS-The Broncbusters got back on track on Monday. 

Tara Reid struck out a season-high eight batters, Alexis Maestretti drove in two runs, and Garden City edged Seward County, 4-3 at Tangeman Sports Complex. The Broncbusters improved to 14-21 overall and 8-11 in conference.

Garden City did all their offensive damage in the first. After Seward grabbed a 1-0 advantage on Gabrielle Sanchez's RBI ground out, the Broncbusters answered in the bottom half. Ryanna Johnson was hit by a pitch; stole second; then came home when Nya Chacon stroked a one-out single to center. Following back-to-back base hits by Alanna Neilsen and Lacey Kearsley, Savanna Griebling was hit by a pitch, Maestretti followed with a two-run single, and Arianna Griego ripped a run-scoring double to make it 4-1. 

The Saints though came right back in the second. After Kayden Rodgers booted a ball at short, Madeline Pack smacked a two-run homer to make it a one-run game. 

From there, Reid worked in and out of trouble, getting out of a two on, two-out jam in the fourth by striking out Macy Cesa-Spearman. An inning later, the Saints again had two on and two out. This time, the sophomore got Ashley Low to pop out harmlessly to center. Reid settled down after that, retiring the final eight Seward County batters.

The sophomore picked up her fourth win of the season in the circle for Garden City, allowing two earned runs on eight hits in a complete-game gem. (Ryanna) Johnson was 2-for-2, and Neilsen finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.