Garden City misses chance late; falls on walk-off to Colby

By Mike Pilosof

Colby, KS-Garden City was this close from earning another series sweep. But they played with fire all game long, and they got burned in the end.

Jennifer Williams clubbed two home runs including a walk-off shot in the bottom of the seventh, and Colby earned a series split with a 10-9 victory in game two Thursday afternoon at Trojans Field.

Garden City looked like they were left for dead after falling down 9-3 going into the seventh. But the Broncbuster bats finally broke through. Micaela Mirabal, Erykah Foster, and McKayla Encinias slapped three straight singles to begin the frame. Then, Alexis Maestretti doubled home two, another run scored on an error by Savanna Anderson in left, Nya Chacon ripped a two-run, extra base hit to the gap, and Lacey Kearsley collected an RBI knock, tying the game at 9. But with nobody out, the Broncbusters failed to take the lead as Tara Reid flied out, and Elycia Johnson and Foster grounded out to end the rally.

And that missed opportunity came back to haunt Garden City.

After Kearsley, who struggled with command all day, got the first two batters out in the Trojan seventh, she missed her target to Williams, who bashed a fastball over the wall in center for the game winner.

Kearsley dropped to 3-8 in the circle, giving up eight earned runs on 14 hits for Garden City, which saw their six-game winning streak come to an end. She gave up two long balls.

Allison Westbrook notched the win for the Trojans, surrendering eight runs on 12 hits in seven innings.