Busters Strike Early, Finish Strong in Win at Otero

Photo by: Adam Shrimplin/Garden City Athletics

La Junta, CO – Garden City Community College used a balanced offensive attack and multiple home run swings to defeat Otero College 13-8 in Game 1 of an away doubleheader Tuesday.

The Broncbusters totaled 17 hits and scored in five different innings, pulling away late with a four-run seventh inning to secure the opener.

Garden City wasted no time getting on the board as Aiden Roberts led off the game with a solo home run in the first inning. Otero answered in the bottom half with a two-run homer to take an early 2-1 lead.

The Broncbusters responded in the second, highlighted by a solo home run from Cody Kilpatrick and an RBI double from Sawyer Marshall to reclaim a 3-2 advantage. Otero briefly tied the game in the third, but Garden City surged ahead for good in the middle innings.

A two-run home run from Roberts keyed a three-run fourth inning, and the offense continued to roll in the fifth. Brady Eklund delivered a two-run homer, and Marshall added another RBI knock as Garden City extended its lead to 9-5.

Otero chipped away with runs in the fifth and sixth innings, cutting the deficit to 9-8, but the Broncbusters answered emphatically in the seventh. Cael Hamrick drove in a run with a single before Karson Evans delivered a two-run single to break the game open and seal the 13-8 victory.

Garden City finished with 13 runs on 17 hits, with Roberts leading the way with two home runs and multiple RBIs. Marshall, Kilpatrick, and Eklund each contributed multi-hit performances, while the Broncbusters combined for four home runs in the contest.

Otero totaled eight runs on eight hits, using timely extra-base hits early but unable to match Garden City's late offensive push.

Key Moment
Garden City's four-run seventh inning created separation after Otero had trimmed the game to a one-run deficit.

Key Stat
The Broncbusters recorded 17 hits and four home runs, scoring in five different innings to power the win.