Tigers’ belt 10 home runs in doubleheader sweep at Hutchinson

Continuing its early season onslaught at the plate, the No. 9-ranked Cowley College baseball team hit 10 home runs in a doubleheader sweep of Hutchinson Community College Saturday in Hutchinson. The Tigers slipped past the Blue Dragons 14-13 in the opener before blasting Hutchinson 15-2 in game two.

Cowley is now 4-0 on the season and has scored 80 runs in its four games. The Tigers have also hit 18 home runs in the four contests.

"It is always good when you can go on the road and get a couple wins," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "Our guys are swinging it really well right now and have a good idea of what they are trying to do at the plate. It seems like when a pitcher makes a mistake our guys are capitalizing on it."

In game one, Cowley rallied from a 9-6 deficit by scoring six runs in the top of the fourth inning. The Tigers got a solo home run from Bryce Madron, a grand slam from Felix Chenier-Rondeau and another solo shot from David Herring in the six-run fourth. The homer was the third in three games for Chenier-Rondeau, who finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

After Hutchinson tied the game at 13-13 following a two-run homer by pinch hitter Sterling Sutcliffe with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Madron led off the seventh with a single, advanced to second on a pass ball, stole third and scored the go-ahead run when Hutchinson catcher Cole Cosman's throw to third was off line on the stolen base attempt.

Hutchinson put the first two runners on base against Cowley reliever Titan Stephens (1-0) in the bottom of the seventh inning before Miguel Fulgencio came in to retire the next three batters and preserve the 14-13 win.

In game two, Cowley broke open a 4-2 ballgame by scoring seven runs in the top of the fifth inning. The Tigers hit five home runs in the inning, including getting back-to-back-to-back homers from Joel Benes, Andrew Williams, and David Herring.

Left-fielder Janson Reeder homered earlier in the game and now has three home runs in four games as does shortstop David Herring.

Christian Johnson started on the mound for the Tigers and allowed only one hit and no earned runs to go along with five strikeouts in three innings pitched. Grant Adler (1-0) followed on the mound and struck out four in two scoreless innings of relief.

Tiger relievers Jordan Brewer, Cameron Burris, and Caleb Case finished off the 15-2 win as Cowley out-hit Hutchinson 10-3.

"Christian set the tone early in the game and Grant did the same thing," Burroughs said. "Those other guys came in and followed suit."

Hutchinson is now 2-3 on the season.

The Tigers will play its first home doubleheader of the season when they host Cloud County in a pair of games beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday. The T-Birds are 5-4 on the season.

"Cloud has a good program. We are looking forward to the challenge," Burroughs said. "We are going to continue to take baby steps to try and get better at all facets of the game."

Game one                      R H E

Cowley 3 3 0 6 1 0 1 – 14 11 1

Hutch   1 4 4 0 0 4 0 – 13 13 2

Game two                      R H E

Cowley 2 2 0 0 7 1 3 – 15 10 1

Hutch   0 0 2 0 0 0 0 –  2 3 0