Busters Open Doubleheader with 5-3 Victory at Colby

Photo by: Adam Shrimplin/Garden City Athletics

Colby, KS – Garden City Community College used timely hitting and a complete-game effort in the circle to secure a 5-3 win over Colby Community College in Game 1 of a conference doubleheader Friday.

The Broncbusters scored in three different innings and capitalized on Colby miscues, while Skylah Breeze Joyce went the distance, allowing three runs on nine hits with five walks to earn the win.

Garden City struck first in the opening inning when Maysen Kurene-Iwikau launched a solo home run to give the Broncbusters an early 1-0 advantage.

The Busters added to their lead in the second. Averie Ashford doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on an RBI groundout by Izzy Foster, pushing the lead to 2-0.

Colby answered in the third with a run on an RBI single, trimming the deficit to 2-1, but Garden City delivered the decisive blow in the fifth inning.

Reagan Sword sparked the rally with a leadoff double and later scored on a passed ball. Danna Viera followed with a double and eventually came home on a triple from Kurene-Iwikau. Maiarangi Waipara added an RBI on a sacrifice play as the Broncbusters plated three runs in the frame to extend the lead to 5-1.

Colby threatened late, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of RBI hits, but Joyce closed the door to secure the victory.

Kurene-Iwikau led the offense, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, triple, and two RBI. Viera, Ashford, and Sword each added doubles, while the Broncbusters utilized aggressive baserunning with multiple stolen bases to create scoring opportunities.

Key moment
Garden City's three-run fifth inning broke open a tight 2-1 game and provided the cushion needed to hold off Colby's late push.

Key stat
The Broncbusters recorded six hits—four for extra bases—and turned them into five runs, while Joyce tossed a complete game in the circle.