Tigers sweep a pair of home games, improve to 8-2 in Jayhawk Conference

The Cowley College baseball team won a hard-fought, 3-2 10-inning contest against Allen County Community College in the first game of a doubleheader played Thursday at Tiger Baseball Field before run-ruling the Red Devils 11-0 in game two.

With the victories, Cowley improves its record to 13-9 overall and is tied with Neosho County for second place in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division with a record of 8-2. Johnson County is currently atop the conference standings with a record of 10-0.

In game one of Thursday's doubleheader, an error by the Tigers led to a pair of unearned runs off Cowley starting pitcher Chance Cox in the top of the second inning.

With a chance to add to its lead, Allen had runners at second and third and only one out in the top of the fourth inning when Cowley centerfielder Ty Hammack caught a flyball hit by Anthony Nino and threw out Gabe Glenn at home plate to complete the inning-ending double play.

The score would remain 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Cowley chased Red Devil starting pitcher Brett Buchanan with two runners on and one out. The Tigers would get the runs back from earlier as two runs crossed the plate on an errant pick off throw to third base by Allen reliever Jack Bland.

Cox went five innings, scattering six hits and two unearned runs.

"Chance wasn't as sharp as normal but still battled and should have had five zeroes in five innings," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said.

Tanner Vaughn followed by retiring all four batters he faced before giving way to Drew Duckhorn, who tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings to go along with four strikeouts as the game remained tied, heading to the bottom of the 10^th inning.

"Drew has been pitching really well lately and did a phenomenal job," Burroughs said.

Trayson Miller led off the bottom of the 10^th by reaching base safely on an error by Allen shortstop Garrett Rusch. Miller advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Keaton Campbell and then came around to score the winning run on a base hit by Cooper Schwindt.

"It was not a pretty game, but it was good for us to win," Burroughs said.

Batting at the top of the order, Hammack had a stellar day at the plate as he went 5-for-5 and was just a home run shy of hitting for the cycle.

"Ty had a good game and had a great approach at the plate," Burroughs said.

Schwindt had the Tiger's other two hits.

"Cooper is making strides at the plate," Burroughs said.

The Tigers would jump all over Allen in the nightcap as they batted around and scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning. Red Devil starting pitcher Bobby Walker retired just one batter while walking four and allowing five runs. Cowley also benefited from a pair of errors in the opening inning.

Miller and Jordan Shepherd had two-run hits in a five-run second inning as Cowley's lead grew to 10-0.

Freshman second baseman Jadyn McNealy went 3-for-3 with three runs scored in game two, while Miller and Shepherd drove in three runs apiece.

Cade Perkins started game two for the Tigers and allowed five hits to go along with three strikeouts and no walks in tossing the five-inning shutout.

"That was good for Cade to come out and throw a shutout," Burroughs said.

The teams will wrap up the four-game series by playing a doubleheader in Iola, KS Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. Allen is now 13-12 overall and 5-5 in the conference.

"Allen is a scrappy team that plays hard and will have their No. 1 pitcher going Saturday, so it will be a dog fight," Burroughs said.

Score by inning:

Game one                            R H E

Allen    0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 2 7 3

Cowley 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 – 3 7 2

Game two              R H E

Allen    0 0 0 0 0 – 0 5 2

Cowley 5 5 1 0 x – 11 7 0