WNCC takes game two from Garden City

Garden City, KS-Shintaro Inoue homered and drove in five, Isaac Smith had four RBI, and Western Nebraska topped Garden City, 13-11 in game two Monday afternoon at Williams Stadium. 

Making just his second start of the season, Caleb Metzen struggled, allowing four runs on two hits in just 2/3 of an inning. He was quickly replaced by Kurisu Ueta, who promptly gave up a homer to Inoue. 

The Cougars scored four runs in the first; then padded the lead with Inoue's two-run shot in the second and Jacob Jackson's RBI triple in the fourth to make it 7-1.  

The Broncbusters countered in their half of the fourth when Conner Thompson cleared the bases with a double to left. Ryan Cherry followed with a run-scoring single; then scored on a throwing error to trim the deficit to 7-5.  

After the Cougars scored four more runs in the fifth off reliever Peyton Walters, Garden City came right back. Gundelfinger slapped a two-run single to center in the fifth and a wild pitch and a passed ball allowed three more to score in the sixth to make it a one-run contest.  

But the bullpen gave it right back. Inoue took advantage of a hanging curveball and wacked it to the gap in right for an RBI triple. Four batters later, Smith singed with the bases loaded, and Western Nebraska had a 13-10 lead. 

The Broncbusters managed to make things a little interesting in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Konner Hatfield smoked a line-drive shot over the wall in left. Kaelen Bing then followed with a single to bring the tying run to the plate. But Nick Barber flied out harmlessly to right to end the game.  

Metzen dropped to 0-2 on the hill for Garden City, which dropped to 4-15 vs. non-conference opponents this season.