Lady Buffaloes Struggle in Doubleheader with Hays

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – The new-look Lady Buffaloes couldn’t keep up with the defending Western Athletic Conference Champions.

The Garden City Lady Buffaloes were defeated in both of their matchups with the Hays Indians, falling 16-0 and 21-2 at John Ford Field on Monday afternoon.

Garden City (5-8, 2-2 WAC) struggled to get good metal on Hays’ starting pitchers. Aubree Thomas and Riley Dreher didn’t give up any earned runs over either game, striking out nine.

Hays’ (9-6, 8-1 WAC) experience just proved too much for the youthful Lady Buffaloes. The Indians’ offense scored in eight of the nine innings across the doubleheader.

The Lady Buffaloes will look to respond tomorrow at home against the Great Bend Panthers in another WAC matchup.

GAME 1: Hays, 16-0 (5)

The Indians’ hit parade didn’t stop after the second inning. The Lady Buffaloes gave up what was a season-high 16 runs in the first game, 14 of which throughout two innings.

Hays High plated seven runs in each of the third and fifth innings, leaving no room for error.

HHS blew the game open on a Dani Willeford two-run triple in the third, which stood as their only extra-base hit in the five innings.

Every Indians player recorded an RBI in the win, Dreher was a perfect four-for-four with three runs batted in.

Garden City recorded just three hits in response, all singles. Yazmin Almanza, Kyleigh Whitehurst, and Aleeya Cruz all reached base safely.

GAME 2: Hays, 21-2 (4)

Hays roared ahead early, leaving no opportunity for Garden City to get back into the doubleheader.

The Indians struck for six runs in the first inning. HHS recorded just one extra base hit in the first game, but started game two with two doubles and a triple in the first inning alone.

Hays would score five runs in their next three innings, helped out by three GCHS errors.

The Buffaloes’ lone runs would come in the second and third innings. 

Catcher Elly Ortiz knocked a one-out triple to give Garden City life, coming home two pitches later after a Dreher throwing error on an Alleya Cruz ground ball.

Yasmim Angeles scorches a hard-hit single with one out in the third inning, proceeding to steal second and move to third in the next at-bat. Yazmin Almanza brought her home on a grounder to Hays’ shortstop, leading to an errant throw.

Garden City recorded just three hits in game two.