Mercer breaks strikeout record in pair of one-run defeats

Facing No. 10-ranked Highland Community College Tuesday at home, the Cowley College softball team gave the Lady Scotties all they could handle in a pair of one-run defeats. The Lady Tigers got a school-record 18 strikeouts from Ashlynn Mercer in a 2-1 loss of game one, before rallying from an eight-run deficit in game two only to fall by a score of 12-11.

Cowley had its six-game winning streak snapped as they are now 21-9 overall and 11-3 in the Jayhawk Conference. Highland, winners of 21 games in a row, is now 21-3 overall and 12-0 in conference play.

Fresh off tossing a no-hitter in her last outing, sophomore Ashlynn Mercer broke the school-record for strikeouts in a game by fanning 18 batters in the 2-1, extra inning loss of game one. Mercer broke the previous school-record of 17 strikeouts shared by Candice Wilburn and Lindsey Davis.

"This is huge honor for her. Ashlynn deserves a ton of credit for her performance," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said.

Mercer is now 13-4 on the season. The right-hander has struck out 155 batters in 106 innings.

With the score tied at 1-1, Taylor Kettle's solo home run in the top of the eighth inning proved to be the difference in the game.

After throwing more than 150 pitches in the opener, Mercer was summoned back to the mound to replace Sydney Price (6-2) in the top of the fifth inning of game two with the Lady Tigers trailing 6-4. Mercer did not have the same magic that she had in game one as she allowed five runs in the inning before Price came back in to pitch the six-run fifth inning.

With Cowley trailing 12-4, the Lady Tigers scored seven runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Maci Cole's grand slam highlighted the big inning as Cowley pulled within 12-11.

Kettle, the hero of game one, came on in relief of Highland starting pitcher Salem Liebenthal and did not allow a run in 2 1/3 innings. Cowley stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the sixth inning and were retired in order in its final at bat.

Price hit a pair of two-run homers to keep Cowley in the game prior to the six-run fifth inning for the Scotties. Price now has seven home runs on the season, while the homer for Cole tied her for the team-lead in homers with Kayla McClellan as they have each homered eight times on the season.

"Sydney had some incredible plate appearances that really kept us in the game and Maci continues to be clutch for this team as she came up big in that fifth inning," Hoyt said. "Maci's work ethic in practice and outside of practice really are paying off for her. As her coach I am happy for her in those moments because she invests in that extra work to make herself better for the team."

Cowley will look to get back on track when they play a doubleheader at Coffeyville Saturday at 2 p.m. The Red Ravens (3-18) are in last place in the conference with a record of 2-10.

Score by inning:

Game one                          R H E

Highland 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 – 2 3 0

Cowley    0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 – 1 6 0

Game two                        R H E

Highland 2 0 3 1 6 0 0 – 12 11 0

Cowley    0 2 0 2 7 0 0 – 11 11 0