Johnson County shuts out Tigers for third straight time

Second-seeded Johnson County pitching continued its mastery over the fourth-seeded Cowley College baseball team this season as they tossed its third consecutive shutout over the Tigers in a 2-0 win Saturday afternoon at the Region VI Championship played at Wichita State University's Eck Stadium.

Trailing 2-0, Cowley finally chased Johnson County starting pitcher Gabe Nutter from the game with one out in the top of the seventh inning and the bases loaded. Nutter allowed only five hits before being relieved by John Chambers, who promptly struck out Cooper Schwindt for the second out of the inning. Chambers then got Keaton Campbell to line out to left field as Cowley stranded the bases loaded for the second time in the game.

Sophomore pitcher Brigden Parker kept the Tigers within striking distance of the Cavaliers by allowing just one run in 4 1/3 innings before being relieved by sophomore Chance Condit, who allowed just a solo home run by the Cavaliers' Jeremy Rader in the bottom of the sixth inning during his 2 2/3 innings on the mound.

After Chambers retired the side in order in the top of the eighth, Tiger freshman Brett McComas pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth to give Cowley one final chance in the ninth.

However, Chambers set the Tigers down 1-2-3 in the ninth as Johnson County (54-7) advances to Saturday's championship at 11 a.m. The Cavaliers will need to lose twice on Saturday not to win the region title.

Freshman shortstop Jadyn McNealy had two of Cowley's five hits in the defeat.

Cowley (37-21) will play again at 5 p.m. Saturday at Eck Stadium when they face the winner of the Barton vs. Kansas City game. The winner of tonight's game will advance to Saturday's championship round and face Johnson County. The loser will have its season come to an end.

Score by inning:                  R H E

Cowley   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 5 1

Johnson 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 x – 2 8 0