Broncbusters suffer 5-4 setback to Seward

Liberal, KS-Saturday's series' finale with Seward was another reminder that Garden City is not that far off from the top of the conference. But that didn't make the loss sting any less. 

Hailey Michalik had two hits including the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth, Alyssa Morgan homered, and Seward edged the Broncbusters, 5-4 Saturday afternoon. 

Maria Avendano Fori went 3-for-4 with two RBI for Garden City, which fell to 15-13 overall and 7-7 in conference play. Daryelin Rivas Chavez, who's hit safely in 11 out of the last 12 games, was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. 

Following a great start that saw Garden City plate three runs in the first, which included a Fori run-scoring triple, the Saints slowly got back into the game. Taryn Golden, who homered in the opener, doubled home a run in the second. Morgan then followed an inning later with a towering two-run homer to tie the game. The Saints then took the lead later in the inning. 

After Fori's RBI single in the fifth tied the game a 4, Garden City starter, Chiara Olison couldn't hold the lead. She allowed a leadoff single to Brooklynn Castagnet to start the sixth. After giving up a stolen base, Michalik hammered a fastball over the plate for an RBI single and a 5-4 advantage.

Garden City had a shot in the seventh after Fori singled and stole second. But with two chances with runners in scoring position, Maysen Kurene-Iwikau grounded out and Olison waved at strike three. 

Olison allowed five runs on 10 hits over six innings for the Broncbusters.