Lady Tigers’ bats go cold in losses at Neosho

The No. 14-ranked Cowley College softball team found runs hard to come by in a doubleheader at Neosho County on Sunday as the Lady Tigers lost the opener 6-2 before falling 3-2 in the nightcap.

The losses drop Cowley (26-10) into second place in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division with a record of 14-4. Neosho improves to 18-19 overall and 8-8 in the conference.

Cowley managed only nine hits in the doubleheader.
"We did not challenge Neosho enough offensively and that hurt us," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said.

In game one, Lauren Fuller held Cowley to five hits and one earned run in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Cassidy Paulson recorded the final five outs for the victory.

Cowley starting pitcher Brooke Mason cruised through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Mason allowed six runs on five hits and six walks as she fell to 12-4 on the season.

Neosho starting pitcher Ravin Moore allowed four hits and two runs in five innings as she left the game with her team trailing 2-1. Cassidy Paulson pitched the final two innings and struck out four while not allowing a run.

In game two, Brylea Teufel's solo home run in the top of the fifth inning gave Cowley a 2-0 lead. However, Neosho scored a run in the bottom of the fifth inning and two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 3-2.

Cowley put runners at first and second with only one out in the top of the seventh inning before Paulson struck out the final two batters to preserve the 3-2 win.

Sophomore Ashlynn Mercer was the tough luck loser as she allowed four hits and two earned runs in six innings. Mercer struck out seven and walked one as she is now 11-3 on the season.

Cowley will return home to face Johnson County in a doubleheader Thursday at 2 p.m. The Cavaliers (14-4) are ranked 20^th in the latest poll.

"These next few days we need to regain our confidence and prepare for Johnson," Hoyt said.

Score by inning:

Game one                   R H E

Cowley 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 2 5 2

Neosho 0 0 1 0 0 5 x – 6 7 1

Game two                    R H E

Cowley  0 1 0 0 1 0 0 – 2 4 2

Neosho  0 0 0 0 1 2 x – 3 4 1