Lady Tigers split second straight home doubleheader

Playing its second home doubleheader of the season, the No. 15-ranked Cowley College softball team had the same results as they split a pair of games. This time, the Lady Tigers bounced back from a tough, 10-7 loss of Tuesday's opening game against Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa to run-rule the Lady Mavericks 12-1 in game two played at Ed Hargrove Field.

As was the case in Cowley's first home doubleheader, the Lady Tigers lost a close game and run-ruled the opponent in the victory.

In Tuesday's opener, Cowley came back from a 4-3 deficit to lead 6-4 after scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Aaliyah Ahmed led off the fourth inning with a solo home run and three batters later, Maci Cole hit a two-run homer to put the Lady Tigers in front. The homer by Cole was her fourth in six games.

However, NOC scored three runs on two hits in the top of the fifth inning to go back in front 7-6.

Cowley would tie the game at 7-7 on a solo home run by second baseman Kyla Bonnarens with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Unfortunately, the Lady Mavericks answered back with a home run by Savannah Chenoweth leading off the top of the seventh inning and added a two-run single by Jayden Looper as they went on to the 10-7 win.

"We allowed NOC too many runs with two outs," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. "We are having strong first innings, we just need to learn to carry the same momentum and energy into other innings throughout the game."

NOC got to Cowley starting pitcher Saige Smith (2-1) for 10 hits and eight runs, four of which were earned, as she went the distance on the mound.

Emma Enderud earned the win for the Mavericks, allowing seven hits and seven runs, while striking out eight.

Cowley would run away with game two as freshman catcher Cherokee Hibbs belted a grand slam in a five-run first inning.

"Cherokee was tough behind the plate and she had a big at bat coming through for us in the first inning," Hoyt said.

The Lady Tigers would tack on three more runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth as they scored 12 runs on only seven hits.

Bonnarens finished 2-for-2 with a double, three runs scored, and two runs batted in. While, Hibbs and first baseman Karleigh Bell combined to drive in seven runs.

Jaala Nowlin allowed only two hits and one run in five innings pitched as she evened her record at 1-1 on the season.

"Jaala threw really well and our defense was very strong behind her," Hoyt said. "She really needed a strong outing for her confidence and I am glad she had that."

Cowley (4-3) will now prepare to seven games in two days while playing Friday and Saturday in Weatherford, TX.

"It will be another strong test for us this weekend," Hoyt said. "As a team we know that they will challenge us and will put the ball in play. We just have to play up to our potential and capitalize on the things we can control."

Score by inning:

Game one                     R H E

NOC   0 0 4 0 3 0 3 – 10 10 0

Cowley 3 0 0 3 0 1 0 – 7 7 1

Game two              R H E

NOC    0 1 0 0 0 – 1 2 2

Cowley 5 0 3 4 x – 12 7 0