Baseball Splits Doubleheader in Garden City Behind MacDonald's Gem

GARDEN CITY, Kan. - Colby baseball showcased both its offensive firepower and resilience Thursday (April 16), earning a decisive win in Game 1 before coming up just short in a late-inning battle in Game 2 to split a doubleheader with Garden City. 

Game 1

Colby put together a complete performance in Game 1, using timely hitting and a strong start on the mound to defeat Garden City 9–3.

Colby wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first inning, as Turner Zdunich delivered an RBI single to bring home Jacob Mraz for the early lead. Garden City answered in the bottom half, taking advantage of a passed ball to even the score at 1–1.

The Trojans quickly regained control in the second inning. Matt Murray reached and came around to score on an RBI single from Mraz, giving Colby a 2–1 edge. From there, the offense began to pull away in the third. Charlie Langford launched a solo home run to extend the lead, and just a few batters later, Anthony Deblois followed with a two-run shot to push the advantage to 5–1.

Colby continued to apply pressure in the sixth inning, adding two more runs. Mraz picked up his second RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly, and Caden Clifford followed with an RBI single to make it 7–1. The Trojans capped their scoring in the seventh when Callum Thomson crushed a two-run home run to center field, extending the lead to 9–1.

Garden City showed some life in the bottom of the seventh, plating two runs on an RBI single by Aiden Roberts, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.

On the mound, Rory MacDonald delivered a strong outing to earn the win. The right-hander tossed six innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out two and walking three. Brody Torkelson handled the final inning in relief.

Offensively, Colby racked up 13 hits in the contest. Murray led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, while Langford, Thomson, Zdunich, and Mraz each recorded two hits. Langford, Deblois, and Thomson all homered, combining for three of the team's nine RBIs. Deblois and Thomson each drove in two runs, while Mraz also finished with a pair of RBIs and added a stolen base. Defensively, Colby was sharp, committing no errors and turning multiple double plays to keep Garden City from building momentum.

Game 2 

Colby then jumped out to a commanding early lead but couldn't hold off a late surge, falling 8–7 to Garden City in a back-and-forth Game 2 of the doubleheader.

The Trojans came out swinging in the opening inning, plating four runs to take immediate control. A wild pitch brought home the game's first run before Anthony Deblois delivered a two-run single to extend the lead. Jake Brooks capped the inning with an RBI single, giving Colby a 4–0 advantage.

Colby kept the pressure on in the second inning as Turner Zdunich launched a solo home run, followed shortly by another solo shot from Deblois to push the lead to 6–0.

Garden City began to chip away in the bottom half of the second, scoring twice on an RBI single and a sacrifice groundout. The Broncbusters added another run in the fourth to cut the deficit to 6–3.

After a few quiet innings, Colby added an important insurance run in the sixth when Matthew Kesting blasted a solo home run to extend the lead to 7–3.

However, momentum shifted dramatically in the eighth inning. Garden City erupted for four runs to tie the game, beginning with an RBI single from Aiden Roberts. Sean Togher followed with a two-run home run to bring the Broncbusters within one, and Karson Evans tied the game with a solo shot later in the inning.

In the ninth, Garden City completed the comeback. After working into scoring position, Sawyer Marshall crossed the plate on a wild pitch to give the Broncbusters a walk-off 8–7 victory.

Colby finished with 10 hits on the day, led by Deblois, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Kesting also had a strong performance, going 2-for-3 with a homer and an RBI, while Brooks added two hits and an RBI. Zdunich contributed a home run as part of his effort, and the Trojans showed aggressiveness on the basepaths with five stolen bases.

On the mound, Isaiah Sadorus got the start, allowing three runs over three innings. Carter Graham provided solid relief, tossing 4.2 innings and giving up just two runs while striking out four. Trey Schroeder took the loss after surrendering the late runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

Garden City totaled 11 hits and drew seven walks in the contest. Togher and Evans each homered during the late rally, while Cody Kilpatrick added two hits and two RBIs. The Broncbusters' persistence at the plate ultimately proved to be the difference.

Colby showed its ability to control games with both its bats and pitching staff, but Game 2 served as a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in the game of baseball. Despite the split, the Trojans' offense remained productive throughout the day, combining for 16 runs and 23 hits across the doubleheader

They will wrap up the four-game series on Saturday (April 19) in Colby, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.