GCHS softball grabs one from Great Bend

Great Bend, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-It’s hard to overstate the importance of Thursday afternoon’s game. After all, Great Bend was picked by many to be right there with Hays to nab the conference crown. 

So when Trina Moquett when to her ace Dusti Befort in game one, it didn’t catch anyone by surprise. But the decision definitely paid off in a 6-4, extra-inning victory in the opener. Great Bend grabbed the finale 8-1. 

“We were able to bounce back nicely,” said Befort, who allowed four runs on seven hits in a complete-game win. “We came together nicely.”

Jenna Greenlee got the Buffaloes started in the top of the second with an RBI single that scored Shai Cartmill. After Great Bend tied it in the bottom of the inning, Garden City grabbed the lead back on Cartmille’s sacrifice fly in the third. A Panther error extended allowed Abbi Dart to score-padding the Buffs lead at 3-1. 

The Panthers scored a run in the third, and then took the lead with a two-run fifth only to watch the Buffaloes tie it on Haley Saldana’s two-out, run-scoring single in the top of the seventh setting up a dramatic finish. 

Back-to-back singles to lead off the eighth put runners in scoring position for Garden City. After Kennedy Brunson struck out on four pitches, Befort gave them the lead for good-stroking a single to left. Great Bend’s fifth miscue of the contest allowed an insurance run to score. 

Great Bend threatened in the bottom of the eighth, but Befort got Regan Unruh to ground out-ending the game. 

In game two, the third inning changed everything. Great Bend plated five runs fueled by back-to-back extra base hits: A triple by Tarryn Stueder and a double off the bat of Unruh. 

Freshman Abbie Dart allowed eight runs (six of those earned) on 10 hits, while striking out eight in six innings of work. 

Next up: Garden City vs. Dodge City-Friday, May 2-2:45 p.m. pregame; 3 p.m .first pitch on westernkansasnews.com

Other Scores

Goodland 11, Holcomb 1…Goodland 9, Holcomb 5