Late Run Lifts Hutchinson Past Broncbusters in 2-1 Battle

Photo by: Adam Shrimplin/Garden City Athletics

HUTCHINSON, KS – Garden City Community College dropped a tightly contested 2-1 decision to Hutchinson Community College in Game 1 of a road doubleheader Wednesday at Fun Valley.

The Broncbusters (26-21) were limited to just one run despite seven hits, while Hutchinson used a late push to secure the win.

Garden City broke through in the third inning to take an early lead. Danna Viera sparked the rally with a double before Maysen Kurene-Iwikau delivered an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Viera to give the Broncbusters a 1-0 advantage.

The Busters threatened again in the sixth when Kurene-Iwikau recorded her second double of the game, but Hutchinson worked out of the inning to keep the deficit at one.

Hutchinson evened the game in the fifth, capitalizing on defensive miscues to plate an unearned run. The Blue Dragons then delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the seventh, stringing together baserunners before a two-out RBI single brought home the game-winning run.

Garden City finished with seven hits, led by Kurene-Iwikau's 2-for-3 performance with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Viera also added two hits, while Jade Hendrix, Averie Ashford, and Skylah Breeze Joyce each contributed a hit.

In the circle, Valeria Mandujano turned in a strong outing, going six innings and allowing just two runs—only one earned—on four hits while working around traffic throughout.

Key moment
Hutchinson's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh capped a late rally and handed Garden City a walk-off loss.

Key stat
The Broncbusters out-hit Hutchinson 7-5 but committed three errors, leading to a pivotal unearned run in a one-run game.