Garden City loses series' opener to Otero

La Junta, CO-Up until Sunday, Yina Ballesta Vargas had been nearly unhittable. 

But even an ace has that type of day. 

The sophomore allowed eight runs on six hits and was pulled after just two innings, Anna Barraza and Robyn Foster each went yard, and Otero run-ruled Garden City, 12-4. 

Maria Avendano Fori hit her conference-leading 11^th homer of the season for the Broncbusters, which fell to 9-6 overall. 

For the first time this year, Vargas appeared human. She allowed a run in the first before the wheels completely fell off in the second. After getting the first two outs, she allowed back-to-back singles. Marissa West then drew a walk before Aunika Marquez singled home a run. That setup Barraza, who smashed a grand slam to right. Two batters later, Foster hit a two-run homer, and suddenly Vargas was staring at an 8-2 deficit. 

Destiny Martinez ended the game in the fifth with a two-run triple. 

Meantime, Fori crushed a one-out solo shot in the first. She's currently third in the nation in home runs. 

Alyssa Santana finished 2-for-3 at the plate, and Vonk scored twice for Garden City. 

Martinez picked up the win for the Rattlers, fanning five over five innings. She yielded four runs on five hits and walked five.