DRAGONS RALLY TO COMPLETE SWEEP OF BUSTERS

Hutchinson CC Sports Information

The Hutchinson Community College softball team had some more last at-bat magic to complete a Jayhawk Conference doubleheader sweep of the Garden City Broncbusters on Tuesday at Fun Valley.

Trailing the Busters by two runs entering the bottom of the seventh in Game 2, Brooke Backhaus' two-run walk-off single to left field completed the comeback for a 10-9 victory to run their current winning streak to eight games.

The Blue Dragons made a five-run first inning stand up in Game 1 backed by Morgan Tomlinson's complete-game performance in a 5-2 win.

Hutchinson is now 17-5 overall and 11-1 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Blue Dragons play host to Dodge City at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Fun Valley. Garden City is now 14-12 overall and 6-6 in the KJCCC.

GAME 2 RECAP – Hutchinson 10, Garden City 9
Garden City took a 9-7 lead with a five-run fifth inning and carried that two-run lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Bailey Backhaus led off with a single and then stole second base. After a Kaibryn Kruger sacrifice bunt moved Bailey Backhaus to third, she scored on Tailor Golly's RBI single to right field to cut the Garden lead to 9-8. Gabby Stauffer then reached on a two-base error to center field, moving Golly to third wit one out. Brooke Backhaus, on a 2-0 pitch, hit a sinking line drive to left and rolled to the fence to score Golly and Stauffer with the game-tying and game-winning runs for Hutchinson's second walk-off win of the season.

After Garden City took its 9-7 lead, Tomlinson came out of the bullpen to quiet to Buster offense by retiring all six batters she faced to earn her ninth win of the season and second of the day. Tomlinson (9-2) had one strikeout, one groundout and four flyball outs.

Offensively, the Blue Dragons out-hit the Busters 12-6.

Bailey Backhaus was 4 for 5 with a double, two stolen bases and two runs. Gabby Stauffer was 3 for 4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Addi Lutz went 2 for 4 with a double.

Brooke Backhaus was 1 for 4 with a career-high-tying four RBIs, also driving runs with a first-inning error and fourth-inning sacrifice fly before her two-run walk-off.

GAME 1 RECAP – Hutchinson 5, Garden City 2
Garden City's potent offense got off to a good start in Game 1 with a double and RBI single in the first two at-bats to start the game for a 1-0 Buster lead. After that, Tomlinson settled in and didn't allow another hit until the sixth inning.

Overall, Tomlinson worked her sixth complete game of the season, striking out a career-high nine batters. She allowed just four hits, two earned runs and two walks.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Blue Dragons answered with a five-run bottom of the first inning.

Bailey Backhaus singled to center and Kruger dropped down a bunt for a single. Golly followed with an RBI groundout and Stauffer gave the Dragons a 2-1 lead with an RBI single. Brie Brawner and Lutz followed with RBI singles for a 4-1 lead. Then the Dragons executed a double steal with Lutz stealing second and Brawner stealing home for a 5-1 lead.

The Blue Dragons had 10 total hits with two hits each from Bailey Backhaus, Kruger, Stauffer and Lutz. All 10 Blue Dragon hits were singles.