Colby drops Broncbusters in opener

Garden City, KS-Shailey Clark knocked in two runs, Kaycee Valencia collected three hits, and Colby beat Garden City, 8-3 in game one Wednesday afternoon at Tangeman Sports Complex. The Broncbusters fell to 11-19 overall and 5-8 in conference play. 

Garden City starter Lacey Kearsley threw 114 pitches, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits in six innings. She struck out three. 

An early miscue cost the Broncbusters in the second before Kaycee Valencia's RBI single in the third put Colby up 2-0. Shailey Clark followed with a sacrifice fly, and Gracie Bishop booted a ball at first allowing another run to score to make it 4-0.  

Garden City got on the board in the fifth when Mereith Robinson smoked a two-run single to right. Moments later, Alanna Neilsen doubled home one, and the Broncbusters were within one, 4-3. 

Colby though stretched the lead with a run in the sixth and three more in the seventh, fueled by Clark's double to center. Reese Mansur added a two-out, RBI single, and Colby had an 8-3 advantage.  

The Broncbusters then went quietly in the seventh. Keely Porter lined into a double play and Robinson struck out swinging.  

Alexa Wade notched the win in the circle for Colby, striking out four in seven innings. She allowed three runs on nine hits. 

Kearsley finished 3-for-3 at the plate for Garden City, which dropped its third straight game.