Lady Tigers drop challenging season-opening doubleheader
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seminole State College (OK) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 0 |
|
Cowley County Community College | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seminole State College (OK) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 1 |
|
Cowley County Community College | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
Playing on its newly installed turf field at Ed Hargrove Field, the Cowley College softball team did not get off to the start they were hoping for as they dropped its season-opening doubleheader against Seminole State (OK) College 9-4 and 4-0. The Trojans are ranked No. 6 in the NJCAA Division I pre-season softball rankings.
Facing NCAA Division I transfer Britney Lewinski in the opening game of the season, the Lady Tigers took advantage of three walks, an error, and a wild pitch, to score three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Third year sophomore Ashlynn Mercer was staked to a 3-1 lead after one inning of play. However, the right-hander allowed a two-run homer to Kamryn Garvie in a three-run third inning for the Trojans.
Lewinski settled down after the shaky first inning to retire nine straight batters for surrendering a two-out single to Maggie Musson in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lewinski allowed four hits and two earned runs in four innings of work. She was relieved on the mound after allowing a lead-off homer to freshman Maci Cole in the bottom of the fifth inning.
However, Seminole State answered back with four runs in the top of the sixth inning and blew the game open on a three-run homer by first baseman Kaylee Edwards.
Mercer (0-1) allowed 13 hits and six earned runs in her first start of the season.
"We need to do a better job of executing when we have two outs," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. "We allowed them to score too many runs with two outs."
Tess Eubank (2-0) tossed three scoreless innings of relief to earn the win for the Trojans.
In game two, Seminole State starting pitcher Shakyrah Gladness tossed a complete game two-hit shutout.
"We have got to continue to make quicker adjustments at the plate and put more pressure on our opponent," Hoyt said.
Cowley freshman Sydney Price matched Gladness through the first four innings before being relieved heading into the fifth inning. Price allowed only two hits in her four innings of work.
However, Seminole State struck for three runs in the sixth inning off Lady Tiger reliever Kennedy Toothman before scratching across a final run in the seventh off Taylor Mercer.
The Trojans managed only five hits, but benefited from three Lady Tiger errors. Cierah Jones and Musson had Cowley's only hits in the loss.
Saturday's doubleheader at Seminole State was moved to Monday beginning at 2 p.m.
"We hope to continue getting better every day," Hoyt said.
Score by inning
Game one R H E
Seminole 1 0 3 0 0 4 1 – 9 13 1
Cowley 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 4 6 3
Game two R H E
Seminole 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 – 4 8 0
Cowley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 2 3
