It was a quick turnaround back on the diamond for the Dodge City baseball team as they opened their KJCCC series with Garden City and picked up two wins against the Broncbusters winning 11-10 and 13-2.
The wins improve the Conquistadors' record to 13-13 on the season and 5-1 in KJCCC action, while making it six straight wins and wins in nine of the last 10 games. The Conqs have also won five straight in the series against Garden City and seven of the last nine meetings.
The series with Garden City transitions to Garden City on Saturday, March 18th for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 pm.
Game 1 – Won 11-10 vs Garden City
The day started a bit rough for the Conqs as they saw Garden City bat around in the first inning scoring seven runs all with two outs with a pair of home runs highlighting the early outburst by the Broncbusters. The Conqs would work their way back over the next few innings starting with back-to-back doubles by
Nick Mesquita and
Carson Wright to plate a run in the bottom of the first. In the bottom of the second, the Conqs batted around to score three runs, while adding four more in the third batting around again with RBI doubles by
Caden Matlon and Mesquita highlighting the inning. Conqs led 8-7 after three innings but Garden City swung the lead back in their favor with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth a leadoff triple by
Andrew Detlefsen led to the Conqs tying the game at 9-9 in the bottom of the fourth. In the bottom of the fifth, the Conqs nearly regained the lead by having the go-ahead run thrown out at home and then Garden City had a chance to grab the lead in the top of the sixth but stranded a pair. In the bottom of the sixth Detlefsen tattooed a two-run home run to lift the Conqs to the lead and despite a run in the top of the seventh, the Conqs earned the win, 11-10.
Conqs offense produced 13 hits in the win led by a pair of three-hit games. Detlefsen finished 3-4 with three runs scored, a home run, triple, double, and two runs scored, while Mesquita was 3-5 with three runs scored, a double, and two RBI. Wright added a 2-3 game with a double, two RBI, and a walk.
On the mound,
Brian Hallum earns the win in two innings of relief giving up just one run on three hits and no walks, while
Zade Cisneros tossed a strong 4.1 innings giving up just two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out four.
Game 2 – Won 13-2 vs Garden City (7 innings)
The second game of the doubleheader saw Garden City take the early lead also scoring a run in the top of the first, but the Conqs countered by batting around in the bottom of the first scoring six runs with a three-run home run by Detlefsen highlighting the inning. The lead grew in the third as Matlon smacked a two-run home run for the Conqs and then the Conqs tacked on five more in the fifth. Two run home runs by Detlefsen and Hallum each in the fifth inning highlighted the five-run frame for the Conqs. Garden City managed to scratch another run across in the seventh, but it was not enough as the Conqs ended the game in the seventh earning the 13-2 win.
A 12-hit attack for the Conqs saw four Conqs have multi-hit games. Detlefsen packed a powerful punch at the plate going 2-4 with two home runs, five RBI, and two runs scored, while Hallum was 3-4 with two runs scored, a home run, and two RBI. Matlon finished 2-2 with two runs scored, a home run, a walk, and two RBI.
Donnie Rhyne added a 2-2 day with two runs scored and a walk.
On the mound,
Michael Lopez was great in five innings of work giving up just one run on four hits and four walks, while striking out four.
