Barton stuns Tigers with a ninth-inning rally to win 9-8
For the second time in as many days, the third-seed Cowley College (42-17) baseball team rallied from a three-run deficit to lead. However, this time, 10th-seeded Barton Community College (41-19) answered back with two runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Tigers 9-8 at the Plains District/Region VI Tournament held Thursday at Wichita State University's Eck Stadium.
This time, Cowley trailed 7-4 before striking for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead 8-7. With Tiger closer Barrett Morgan on to pitch the ninth, the Cougars put runners at second and third with only one out before Morgan struck out Jaron Cotton for the second out of the inning. Needing only one more out to remain unbeaten at the tournament, Morgan allowed a two-run single to Owen Clyne to put Barton back in front 9-8.
Morgan struck out the side to go along with allowing three hits and two runs.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jarrett Flaggert walked to put the tying run on base. But Barton reliever Kyler Horsman struck out Cole Martin to end the game.
The Tigers will attempt to stay alive in the double-elimination tournament when they face eighth-seed Butler (33-26) on Friday at 10 a.m.
Cowley freshman Iziah Salinas started on the mound and tossed five scoreless innings before allowing the first two batters of the sixth inning to reach base. Both runners would come around to score, and Barton scored five runs in the top of the sixth inning to lead 5-3.
Flaggert hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Cougars' lead to 5-4. However, Barton tacked on two more runs in the top of the eighth inning to lead 7-4 and set the stage for the Tiger comeback before Barton rallied for the 9-8 victory.
Martin and Dane Harvey had two hits apiece for the Tigers, who were out-hit 14-9.
The loss snapped Cowley's seven-game winning streak.
Score by inning: R H E
Barton 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 2 – 9 14 1
Cowley 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 4 0 – 8 9 0