Tigers take a part Allen in four-game sweep

The No. 13-ranked Cowley College baseball team out-scored Allen Community College 45-6 in a four-game sweep of the Red Devils. The Tigers opened with 11-1 and 13-1 wins over Allen Thursday in Arkansas City before taking the final two games of the series by scores of 9-2 and 12-2 Saturday in Iola, KS.

Cowley is now 16-5 overall and 7-1 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Allen falls to 9-7 overall and 4-4 in conference play.

"Progression was made," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "Our effort was good in all four games. I think it was a good step forward."

In Thursday's opener, Grant Adler allowed only two hits and one run in five innings pitched as Cowley run-ruled the Red Devils 11-1. Adler struck out seven as he improved his record to 3-0 on the season.

"Our starting pitching, beginning with Adler, was good throughout the series," Burroughs said.

Cowley completed the run-rule victory by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

In Thursday's nightcap, Cowley scored in each of the six innings they batted and cruised to the 13-1 win. Sophomore shortstop David Herring homered and drove in four as Cowley benefited from nine Red Devil walks.

Logan Kimbro (1-0) allowed three hits and one run in 3 2/3 innings pitched as he earned the win. Tanner Vaughn, Carlton Perkins, and Miguel Fulgencio followed with 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief.

The teams would then conclude the four-game series by playing a doubleheader Saturday in Iola. With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning, Cowley got back-to-back two run singles from Janson Reeder and Logan Vaughan as Cowley went on to the 9-2 victory.

Reeder drove in three, while right fielder Ty Hammack went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in.

"Hammack had a big game and we had others step up in the series and have big days," Burroughs said.

Aaron Weber started on the mound for the Tigers and got a no decision as he left with the game tied 2-2. Fulgencio (2-0) relieved Weber on the mound and retired all eight batters he faced to go along with four strikeouts.

In the final game, Cowley pounded out five doubles and out-hit Allen 12-3 in the 12-2 victory.

Bryce Madron had two of Cowley's five doubles, while freshman Haden O'Toole capped the scoring with a three-run double.

Chance Cox (2-0) went the first five innings on the mound for the Tigers and allowed three hits and one earned run, while striking out five.

The Tigers will be back in action Tuesday when they host Hutchinson Community College in a single, nine-inning game, beginning at 2 p.m. The Blue Dragons are 10-12 on the season.

"We want to take it a game at a time and keep seeing the same progression," Burroughs said.

Score by inning:

Game one             R H E

Allen    0 0 1 0 0 – 1 2 2

Cowley 3 0 0 0 8 – 11 7 0

Game two                    R H E

Allen    1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 3 5

Cowley 1 7 1 1 2 1 x – 13 9 0

Game three                 R H E

Cowley 0 0 2 0 4 3 0 – 9 11 1

Allen    0 0 0 2 0 0 0 – 2 4 1

Game four                    R H E

Cowley 0 0 1 6 2 3 0 – 12 12 3

Allen    2 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 2 3 4