Kuntz tosses no-hitter as Cowley blanks Coyotes in doubleheader sweep

The Cowley College softball team put aside its disappointing doubleheader at Friends University on Tuesday by returning home to Ed Hargrove Field in Arkansas City on Wednesday and dispatching the Kansas Wesleyan University JV by scores of 7-0 and 9-0. The victories were highlighted by freshman Ellie Kuntz striking out 14 in a complete-game no-hitter.

"We had a really strong outing in the circle and defensively," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. "Ellie brought good energy in the circle and gave us a really good outing. I thought she had very good control of her pitches and she kept the hitters off balance." 

Kuntz walked four but was never in danger as she improved her record to 2-3 on the season.

It took just three batters into the bottom of the first inning of game one for the Lady Tigers to assert themselves as the first two batters reached base safely before Kyla Bonnarens belted a three-run homer off Lady Coyote starting pitcher Dakohta Cabana.

Cowley would score three more runs in the second inning as McKinzi Sowles hit a two-run single and Tye North followed with a run scoring single. The Lady Tigers would add a run in the third to lead 7-0.

Staked to the early lead, Kuntz retired the first 14 batters she faced before walking Justice Rebuldela with two outs in the top of the fifth inning.

Bonnarens had her second straight three-hit performance as she was just a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

Fellow freshman pitcher Saige Smith (3-5) followed with five scoreless innings in game two as Cowley run-ruled the Coyotes 9-0. Smith allowed four hits, while striking out seven and walking four.

Sophomore Mya Chapman provided Smith all the run-support she would need by blasting a two-run homer. Leftfielder Andrea Kaffure added a pair of doubles as Cowley managed just five hits, but benefitted from six walks by Kansas Wesleyan starting pitcher Karlee McClellan.

"Offensively I would have liked to see us hit better the second game, but our pitchers (Jaala Nowlin, Kuntz, Smith) had a lot better outings and we need that to continue for us," Hoyt said.

The wins snapped Cowley's eight game losing streak and improved the Lady Tigers' record to 6-11.

Cowley will return to action Friday when they play a doubleheader at Rose State College beginning at 2 p.m. Rose State defeated Cowley twice earlier this season in Texas and are 9-5 on the season.

"Going into the doubleheader with Rose State we needed games like this to build some confidence and find a way to get our offense and defense to start syncing together," Hoyt said.

Score by inning:

Game one                   R H E

KWU   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 0 1

Cowley 3 3 1 0 0 0 x – 7 12 0

Game two             R H E

KWU   0 0 0 0 0 – 0 4 2

Cowley 6 0 1 2 x – 9 5 0