Garden City rallies late to run rule Panthers

GARDEN CITY, KAN (WesternKansasNews.Com) – Something about John Ford Field, late innings, and putting Trina Moquiett on edge is Garden City’s comfort zone.

After a double header win Monday afternoon with Western Athletic Conference opponent Hays, the Lady Buffs would only have to follow it up with another. Anybody would have thought easily that Great Bend would cause no issues for the Buffs. Coming in with a 0-11 record, and just 0-6 in the WAC, the Panthers wouldn’t play that way.

Great Bend got things started in the first inning when DeShawna Bryant singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run. In the bottom of the third inning, Garden City tied things up at one when Manwarren’s sac fly scoring a run for the Lady Buffs. The Panthers would only follow up with another run at the top of the fifth after Rillie Prilling hit a ground ball and reach by error. With Great Bend up 2-1, things started looking questionable for Garden City.

“We have to have this tough mentality of we want to compete at the state level. Playing back to back days only makes us tougher and that’s what our girls showed today” said Trina Moquiett. Tough mentality was an understatement for the Lady Buffs.

Bottom of the fifth inning, the lid would open up for Garden City. Manwarren started the fun hitting a two run double RBI into left field, nearly going yard. Castro would hit a sac ground out to bring in another run, making it 4-2 Garden City. Angel Serrano would drive in two more after hitting a triple. Kamy Foster would RBI, and Ryan Warren would finish the inning stealing from third to make it a 8-2 Lady Buff lead.

The Buffaloes defense would waste no time, as Manwarren went three up three down on the Panthers to get Garden City back to the bats.

Bottom of the sixth, and the Buffaloes kept the same momentum in their back pockets. Jesy Foster would single, Manwarren would hot another double RBI, making it 9-2. Yessena Castro would follow with a double line drive into left field, scoring another. The buffs would round out two more runs to finish the game 12-2 on a run rule in five innings.

Manwarren led the Buffaloes to victory in the circle. The righthander went six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out 12 and walking zero.

Jordan Turner took the loss for Great Bend. The bulldog went four and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on four hits and striking out four.

Garden City tallied 12 hits on the day. Angel Serrano, Piper Harris, Manwarren, and Yesenia Castro each managed multiple hits for the Buffaloes. Serrano led Garden City with three hits in four at bats.

Great Bend had six hits in the game. Halle Post and Analiz Rivas all managed multiple hits for Great Bend.

WP: Manwarren (96 pitches, 66 strikes) 26 BF

GBHS 100010x 2 6 2

GCHS 001074x 12 12 2

2B: Manwarren 2, Harris, Castro

3B: Serrano

TB: Serrano 5, Manwarren 4, Harris 3, Castro 3, Warren, J Foster, K Foster

SF: Manwarren

SB: Warren, E Ortiz, Harris

E: Serrano, Castro