Tigers win eighth straight with 11-4 victory over Cloud

Even a little rain can't slow down the No. 9-ranked Cowley College baseball team. The Tigers overcame a one-hour rain delay in the middle of its game against Cloud County Tuesday in Arkansas City to defeat the Thunderbirds 11-4. The victory was the eighth in a row for Cowley as they are now 33-7 on the season.

After Cowley had grabbed the lead by scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning, former Tiger Joel Benes hit a three-run homer off Tiger starting pitcher Brigden Parker in the top of the second.

Cowley would tie the game at 3-3 on a home run by Janson Reeder in the bottom of the third inning and regained the lead when freshman second baseman Haden O'Toole belted his first collegiate home run leading off the top of the fourth inning.

The opposite field home run by O'Toole sparked a four-run fourth for the Tigers.

With Cowley leading 8-3 and having the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, the teams sat through the rain delay. Once play resumed, Cowley would tack on three more runs as they went on to the 11-4 victory.

"This was a good win for us. Cloud has got a nice team," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said.

Reeder, Conner Gore, and David Herring had two hits a piece for the Tigers as they out-hit Cloud 11-7.

Cloud County (34-11), which was receiving votes in the latest rankings, lost for just the third time in its past 14 games. T-Birds starting pitcher Haden Dow (3-2) was tagged with the loss as he allowed eight hits and seven runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Six Tiger pitchers combined to strike out 15 Cloud batters. Blake Priest (1-0), who followed Tiger starter Brigden Parker on the mound, earned the win as he struck out two in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Tiger relievers Jordan Brewer, Chance Condit, and Carlton Perkins did not allow a run as they combined to strike out seven batters in three innings.

"It was good to see those guys take advantage of the opportunity to pitch," Burroughs said. "They responded really well and did a good job of throwing strikes."

Cowley will remain home to play four straight games against Highland Community College. The teams will play doubleheaders Thursday and Friday in Arkansas City at 1 p.m. The Scotties have struggled to a record of 6-35 overall, but are coming off a 14-12 win over Hesston on Saturday.

"If we play well we should be fine, but we need to go out there and take care of business," Burroughs said.

Score by inning:                 R H E

Cloud   0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 4 7 1

Cowley 1 1 1 4 4 0 0 0 x – 11 11 0