Hesston snaps Lady Tigers’ win-streak with split of doubleheader

The No. 14-ranked Cowley College softball team won the first game of a doubleheader at Hesston College on Saturday by a score of 7-2 before having its 10-game winning streak snapped with a 5-2 loss of the nightcap.

The loss, coupled with Highland running its win-streak to nine games in a row, puts Cowley (23-5) two games behind the Lady Scotties (25-3) in the loss column as they enter the final week of play.

In Saturday's opener, Cowley sophomore Ashlynn Mercer (20-5) won her 20^th game of the season. Mercer struck out 13 in the complete game victory.

Tye North homered and drove in three as Cowley pounded out 11 hits in the opener. The homer for North was her fifth of the season.

"We hit the ball pretty good the first game, as well as took advantage of a couple errors by their defense," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said.

However, Hesston starting pitcher Hannah Williams shut down the Lady Tigers offense in game two as she struck out nine in the complete game victory.

"The second game we just didn't play up to our potential and that hurt us," Hoyt said. "Offensively we didn't make quick adjustments at the plate and need to do a better job of this."

Maci Cole had three of Cowley's six hits in game two and drove in both of the Lady Tigers' runs.

Sydney Price (12-3) was tagged with the loss as she allowed four hits and five runs in five innings pitched.

Cowley's doubleheader against Butler Community College on Monday was postponed due to rain. The Lady Tigers will now prepare for an important doubleheader at conference-leading Highland on Thursday at 1 p.m.

"It will be a tough outing for both teams as both teams want to get away with the wins," Hoyt said. "Our focus going into the doubleheader has to be play good softball all the way around, play up to our potential and be the better team on the day."

Score by inning:

Game one                    R H E

Cowley  0 1 4 0 2 0 0 – 7 11 1

Hesston 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 – 2 7 3

Game two                     R H E

Cowley  0 2 0 0 0 0 0 – 2 6 3

Hesston 0 0 0 0 5 0 x – 5 5 1