Mistakes cost Garden City against Pratt

By Mike Pilosof

Photo by Adam Shrimplin

Dodge City, KS-Becky Gundy's team was just happy to be back on the field after a two-week absence thanks to rain and snow. But the rust definitely showed on Saturday.

Garden City committed four errors while Pratt's Lexi Sanborn handcuffed the Broncbuster bats, limiting them to just six hits over seven innings as the Beavers beat Garden City 7-1 at Legends Park.

The miscues started in the second when third basemen Audrey Graf booted a ball with one out. The next batter, Danielle Crumpler, ripped an RBI single to get Pratt on the board. Kenzie Anderson added a run-scoring groundout, and the Beavers were up 2-0.

In the third, Kelie Byers grounded out to second, scoring Celeste Chavez from third. Then in the fifth, Vivian Lopez committed an error at second, allowing Michelle Castillo to reach. A walk and a hit batsmen eventually setup Kiara Whitmore, whose sacrifice fly; coupled with Anderson's single to center, gave Pratt a 5-0 advantage. They stretched that to a seven-run cushion in the sixth when Reagann Bennet singled home two.

Garden City's lone run in the opener came in the bottom of the sixth when Madison Biller stroked a two-out RBI single. But the rally ended there when Graf flew out to center. In the seventh, the Broncusters got two runners on before Madison Brasher popped out to second to end the game.

Denney dropped to 3-3 in the circle, giving up two earned runs on four hits in 4.1 innings. Kaylee Rogers surrendered two in 2.2.

Sanborn picked up the win for Pratt, throwing just 60 pitches in seven innings. Castillo went 2-for-3 at the dish with a run scored and a double.