Broncbusters Take Two From Seward to Cap Three Win Weekend

Liberal, KS (westernkansasnews.com) The Garden City-Seward County baseball rivalry has always been intense, but over the last three years it has been decidedly one sided.  Sunday the Broncbusters took a big comeback win to ride a doubleheader sweep and three out of four in the opening weekend conference series for the third year in a row 8-6 and 21-0.

Game One Highlights 

The first game started out well for the Broncbusters, getting a first inning run when Aeneas Roberson triple off Saints starting pitcher Brian Tims.  Patrick Mixon knocked in Roberson on a two out infield single to stake Garden City to a 1-0 lead.

Garden could not hold on as Seward County first baseman Logan Nethercot homered to deep centerfield over the four hundred foot wall with 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of the first for a 3-1 off Broncbuster starter Tyler Franek. 

Garden City struggled to capitalized on opportunities early, they left the bases loaded in the second when Justin Graff-Rowe made a diving catch in right center to rob Mason Brown of a hit that would have cleared the bases.  The Broncbusters closed to within 3-2 in the fourth when Roberson doubled in C.J. Krainock, but left two more on when Braden Terrell retired the next two batters in order.  Garden City shortstop Connor Reynolds also added to the missed opportunities when he hit into an inning ending double play in the fifth with two on base.

Seward County added two more runs in the fifth when Phillip Muldrow came in relief of Noah Foreman from the Garden City bullpen and walked Saints shortstop Judah Sweat intentionally all to go up against rightfielder Chad Kennedy.  Moments later Kennedy was struck by a pitch and then catcher Easton Herring added a SAC-FLY for a 5-2 lead.  The Saints put up another Sac-Fly in the sixth to stretch their lead to 6-2.

Things seemed like they were in the bag for Seward County to get a leg up in the series at 2-1.  Problem was no one told the Broncbusters.  In the seventh and final inning Garden started with back –back-back walks off Saints starter Nic Ricigliano.   With one out, Kennedy reached on a throwing error from third baseman Jared Biddy allowing the first run to score.  CJ Krainock’s single made it 6-4 and Alex Nielsen hit a drive to left for a double evening the game at six.

With two outs and one on, Brooks Benson came up and homer deep to centerfield off Trent Mulherin giving the Broncbusters a two run lead in a six run seventh.   Connor Burns pitched the bottom of the seventh for his first save.

From the seventh inning of game one to the end of game two, Garden outscored Seward County 27-0. 

Game Two Highlights

Game two the Broncbusters took advantage of two wild pitches from Saints game two starter Dylan Paul in the first and after Mason Brown doubled and was brought home on the second of the two wild pitches, Kyle Lopez lined a ball into the right field corner for his fourth homer of the season in giving Garden City a two run lead.

The Broncbusters broke the game loose in the second inning.  After the first two reached and a force out at third from a failed bunt by Alex Nielson, a balk put both runners into scoring position and Roberson lifted a double to left field for a 4-0 lead.  Following a double by Benson to advance Roberson to third, Mason Brown had a RBI double, Mixon and Kennedy had RBI singles.  For the game Saints starter Dylan Paul gave up eight earned runs over 1 2/3 innings.

If there was any doubt game two belonged to the Broncbusters the fourth inning took care of any lingering questions.  Garden City scored eight runs on just three hits six walks, two wild pitch and two errors.  Mason Brown doubled in two and a fielding error from Jared Biddy scored two more in capping the scoring. 

All this run support came for Garden City starting pitcher Brendan Peitsmeyer who went the distance for his fifth win of the season and third complete game.  Peitsmeyer shutout the Saints over seven innings, giving up five hits while striking out six in Garden’s 21-0 win.

Garden City Coach Chris Finnegan’s Post-game

Garden City improves to 17-4, 3-1 in the Jayhawk.  Seward falls to 7-11, 1-3 in conference.  The Broncbusters will play doubleheaders next Saturday and Sunday against Colby.

Photo Used with Permission