Softball splits doubleheader at No. 15-ranked Neosho County

In a matchup of ranked teams, the No. 20-ranked Cowley College softball team came back from an 8-1 loss of Thursday's opener at No. 15-ranked Neosho County to defeat the Lady Panthers 8-4 in the nightcap.

With conference-leading Highland (16-2) sweeping a pair of games at Coffeyville on Thursday, the Lady Tigers (26-10) are now two games behind the Lady Scotties in the loss column with a conference mark of 16-4.

Neosho (22-13) remains in third place in the conference with a record of 11-7.

In Thursday's opener, Neosho County's Cassidy Paulson and Duin Hannah hit back-to-back homers in a four-run third inning for the Lady Panthers.

After Alivia Lange doubled and scored on a single by Aaliyah Ahmed in the top of the fourth inning, Neosho answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and went on to the 8-1 win.

Olivia Cummings (10-4) held Cowley to three hits in the opener, while striking out eight.

Ashlynn Mercer (15-5) took the loss as she allowed seven hits and five earned runs in six innings pitched.

Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt was not pleased with the way her team competed in game one.

"Coming in we knew we needed to create pressure and we didn't do that in the first couple innings and this set the tone for Neosho," Hoyt said.

Cowley scored in each of the first four innings of game two and played much better in the 8-4 win of game two. Maci Cole hit two of the Lady Tigers' four home runs in the nightcap and finished 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. Cole now leads Cowley with 12 home runs on the season.

Laramie Neff and Lange also homered and drove in two runs apiece as they provided Sydney Price with more than enough run support.

"I was proud of how we recovered in game two and hit better and played a lot better defense," Hoyt said. "That was our goal after the first game. Make adjustments hitting and defensively and we will get the job done."

Price went the distance on the mound, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. She struck out five and walked only one while improving her record to 8-2.

Neosho starting pitcher Lauren Fuller lasted only 1 1/3 innings before being relieved by Ellie Kuntz. Fuller is now 3-1 on the season.

Cowley will now prepare to venture out of conference to play the Friends University JV Monday at 3 p.m. in Wichita, KS.

Score by inning:

Game one                   R H E

Cowley 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 – 1 3 3

Neosho 0 0 4 3 1 0 x – 8 8 1

Game two                   R H E

Cowley 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 – 8 8 1

Neosho 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 4 7 3