Tiger baseball team rallies for 13-12 win at Seminole State

The No. 11-ranked Cowley College baseball team twice rallied from five runs down in its game at Seminole State College (OK) on Tuesday as they scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Trojans 13-12.

The Tigers trailed 4-0 after one inning of play and faced deficits of 7-2 and 10-5 before rallying for the win.

"It was good to see us grind out a win and not give up," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said.

The victory improves Cowley's record to 9-4 on the season, while Seminole State falls to 7-11. Tuesday's win avenged an earlier loss to the Trojans.

Trailing 10-7, freshman right fielder Ty Hammack belted a three-run, game-tying homer in the top of the eighth inning. However, the Trojans would go back on top thanks to a two-run single by Jackson Halter in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Tigers would mount a final rally in the top of the ninth inning as they scored three runs on only one hit. Cowley benefitted from a pair of walks and two hit batters. Cowley's lone hit in the inning came when designated hitter Trayson Miller singled home Blake Mitchell with the go-ahead run. The hit for Miller was his fourth of the game.

"Trayson and the bottom of the order had a big day," Burroughs said. "It was good to see other guys in the lineup step up."

Sophomore Isaac Stebens, who came on to retire the final two batters in the bottom of the eighth inning, remained in the game to toss a scoreless ninth inning and record his first win of the season. Stebens has allowed only three hits and one run in his seven innings pitched on the season.

Stebens and Brigden Parker, who pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief on Tuesday, were the only two of six Cowley pitchers to allow no runs in the win.

At the plate, Hammack, who had driven in just one run entering Tuesday's contest, finished 2-for-4 with five runs batted in. Sophomore centerfielder Bryce Madron drove in three runs out of the leadoff spot, while freshman second baseman Conner Gore homered and scored three times while batting cleanup. Madron is now batting .429 on the season with 17 runs batted in, and Gore raised his average to .368.

The Tigers will open conference play by playing a four-game series against Labette Community College. The teams will square off in a doubleheader Thursday at Labette beginning at 1 p.m. The Cardinals are 6-5 on the season.

"Labette has been playing good ball. We will attempt to keep improving and take care of business," Burroughs said.

Score by inning:                     R H E

Cowley    0 0 0 2 2 1 2 3 3 – 13 15 3

Seminole 4 0 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 – 12 13 2