Lady Tiger softball splits doubleheader at No. 6-ranked Seminole State College

Facing a talented Seminole State College (OK) squad for the second straight doubleheader, the Cowley College softball team rallied for a 7-5 win of game one before losing the nightcap 11-2.

In Monday's opener, Cowley got the scoring started early. With two outs in the top of the first inning, Kayla McClellan doubled and came around to score on an RBI single by Alivia Lange.

Cowley's lead would be short-lived as Seminole State, which is ranked No. 6 in the NJCAA Division I poll, scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the second inning. The Lady Trojans got a solo homer from Jill Stinson and a two-run homer by Avery Clark to chase Cowley starting pitcher Taylor Mercer from the mound in her first start in a Tiger uniform.

Taylor's sister, Ashlynn (1-1), kept Cowley in the game as she came on to throw six dominant innings of relief. The right-hander allowed only two hits and one unearned run, while striking out four and walking one.

"It was good to see Ashlynn come in and throw great innings to get the win," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said.

Julie Stinson started on the mound for Seminole State and was relieved after allowing a run-scoring single by McClellan with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Cowley freshman Maci Cole hit a three-run triple off Seminole State reliever Shakyra Gladness to tie the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth inning. The score would remain tied heading into the top of the seventh inning.

Tye North tripled leading off the seventh and came around to score the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout by Maggie Musson. Following a single by Tatyana Curry, Cole doubled home Curry with an insurance run.

Cole finished 4-for-5 with four runs batted in, while McClellan went 2-for-4 with a run batted in and run scored. North added three hits as Cowley out-hit Seminole State 14-7.

"Offensively we had a ton of baserunners and finally put some things together for the huge seventh inning," Hoyt said. "Maci Cole, Tye North and Kayla McClellan all had a competitive day for us at the plate.  Maci's four RBIs in the leadoff position was very clutch for us."

The Lady Tigers were not as fortunate in game two as McClellan's two-run homer provided all the offense Cowley would get in an 11-2 run-rule defeat.

The Trojans hit three home runs and out-hit Cowley 13-2. Kennedy Toothman (0-2) started on the mound for Cowley and allowed eight hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings pitched. Taylor Mercer relieved Toothman on the mound and allowed five hits and five runs before getting out of the fourth inning.

"We did not have a strong outing in the circle and didn't compete offensively like we did the first game," Hoyt said.

Cowley is now 1-3 on the season, while Seminole State improves to 5-1.

The Lady Tigers originally scheduled competition at the Weatherford College Tournament in Texas this weekend has been postponed. Cowley will now prepare to host a doubleheader against Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m.

Score by inning:

Game one                       R H E

Cowley    1 0 0 1 3 0 2 – 7 14 2

Seminole 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 – 5 7 1

Game two                R H E

Cowley    0 0 0 2 x – 2 2 2

Seminole 1 2 8 0 x  11 13 0