DODGE CITY, Kan. - Finding different ways to win would end up being the recipe for success for the Dodge City Community College baseball team to come away with 6-4 and 3-2 wins over rival Garden City Community College at Cavalier Field in Dodge City on Friday, March 31st. 

The sweep gives DC3 a record of 21-8-1 overall and 11-3 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference while the Broncbusters fell to 22-16 overall and 10-8 in the KJCCC. 

Game one saw Dodge City never trail in the game, taking a 5-0 lead after just one inning of play before taking on another run in the second before holding on for the victory. After working around a single base runner in the top of the first, DC3 would put their first two batters aboard before a strikeout would bring Talon Schaller to the plate. The sophomore would do what he does best by sending an 0-2 pitch well over the left field wall for a no-doubt home run to put the Conquistadors up 3-0. A groundout and two-out single would bring Richard Fullerton up to bat, who would end up hitting a nearly identical slam over the left field fence to put DC3 up 5-0 just one inning into the game. After Garden City would push across one unearned run in the top of the second on a DC3 error, Dodge City would respond with an unearned run of their own on a Schaller RBI single to left field to bring home Brayden Cook. 

The Conquistadors would cruise defensively until the top of the fourth when the Broncbusters would make a game of things by pushing across two runs on three hits to cut the Dodge City lead to 6-3 as the Conquistadors would go down in order for the second-straight inning in the bottom of the fourth. Both GCCC and DC3 would go down in order in the fifth inning before a solo home run by Jesse Gonzales would once again cut into the Dodge City lead and make the score 6-4 as starting pitcher Tommy Knowlton would close out the inning with a groundout and strikeout. Dodge City would keep the offensive struggles going in the bottom of the sixth by being retired in order before turning the ball over to closer Dalton Harvey who would set Garden City down in order with two strikeouts to end the game. 

Knowlton (4-1) would give DC3 a quality start despite striking out only one batter, facing 27 batters and giving up four runs on six hits. Schaller would be the only Conquistador with multiple hits in the game, going two for four at the dish with four RBI's. Fullerton would wind up one-for-three with a pair of RBI's while the top of the lineup (Cade Engle, Cook, and Jake Pederson) all collected a hit each. 

Runs ended up to be at a premium in game two as DC3 would make use of a conference-leading earned run average to give up only two runs on a two-run home run in the second before shutting down the Broncbusters the rest of the way. Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third and only one hit in the game, Dodge City would string together a pair of back-to-back doubles by Engle and Cook to cut into the GCCC lead and make the score 2-1. The offense for both squads would then become non-existent for the next three innings as the Broncbusters would strand a single runner in the fourth before the Conquistadors would do the same in the bottom of the fifth. Garden City would threaten to break the game open in the top of the sxith by loading the bases with two outs forcing DC3 to turn the ball over to J.T. Mossberg. The Greeley, Colorado native would get a popout to end the inning and the threat as Dodge City would manage to keep the game at a one-run deficit. 

With nothing going in the bottom of the frame for DC3, the bats would finally wake up in the top of the seventh following a Dauson Tate leadoff walk. With Tate at first and one out following a groundout, Fullerton and Jonny Chavez would string together back-to-back singles to load the bases with pinch-hitter Robert Perea up to bat. Perea would be called out on an infield single before a pitching change by the Broncbusters would set up a right-handed pitcher vs. batter matchup. Engle would draw an RBI walk to tie the game at two before Cook would follow suit with a second consecutive walk to drive in the go-ahead run and give Dodge City their first lead of the game. 

Mossberg would come back out for the eighth and shut down Garden City offensively before the Conquistadors would strand runners on first and second to send things to the ninth inning. Harvey would make his second appearance of the day with another save opportunity in front of him when the sophomore would get two quick outs and put Dodge City just an out away from the sweep. GCCC would put their next two batters on with two out singles before a strikeout looking would end the game. 

With two saves on the day, Harvey ran his total to seven on the year while Mossberg improved to 2-0 on the year by throwing 2.1 shutout innings. Starter Hayden Davey would take a no-decision after tossing 5.2 innings and striking out five. Engle and Cook would provide the only extra-base hits by DC3 batters in game two as no Conquistador would record multiple hits in the game. Cook would also lead the way with a pair of RBI's while Dodge City would draw five total walks. 

With a weather system expected to move in overnight and stick around throughout the day tomorrow, Dodge City and Garden City will take a day off before resuming their four-game series on Sunday, April 2nd. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m., but could change depending on field conditions on Sunday morning. Stay tuned to www.goconqs.com for full details regarding Sunday's start time.