Lady Tigers sweep Highland, improve to 6-0 in Jayhawk Conference

The Cowley College softball team remained unbeaten in conference play with a pair of wins over Highland Community College Thursday at Ed Hargrove Field in Arkansas City. The Lady Tigers held off the Lady Scotties 8-7 in game one before run-ruling Highland 9-1 in the nightcap.

Cowley has won 17 of its last 18 games as they are now 21-12 overall and 6-0 in the Jayhawk Conference.

In game one, Aaliyah Ahmed tripled leading off the bottom of the second inning, and Karleigh Bell followed with a run-scoring single to give Cowley the early 1-0 lead.

Highland would get the run back in the top of the third when Abigail Zismer walked and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Ryanne Rapp.

Cowley would go back in front 2-1 on a run-scoring single by Shayne Roberts in the bottom of the fourth inning. Maci Cole followed with a three-run homer, her 11^th of the season, to increase the Lady Tigers' lead to 5-1. Cowley would score seven runs in the inning.

Saige Smith (11-5) was in control on the mound for the Lady Tigers before running into trouble in the sixth. She walked in a run and allowed a two-run single by Ally Kukowksi to cut the Scotties' deficit to 8-4. Brianna Maldonado added a run-scoring single to make it 8-5 with runners at the corners and only one out.

Sydney Price came on in relief of Smith. After striking out the first batter she faced, Price allowed a two-run double to Rapp to pull Highland within 8-7 before getting Ellie Stember to ground out to end the inning.

Highland had the tying run at second base, and nobody out in the seventh before Price retired the next three batters to record the save.

"Highland has always been a rival and will put up a strong fight," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. "I was proud of our players on the fight we had in game one when Highland had their rally."

Smith struck out 11 but also walked five as she allowed three hits and seven runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched.

Cole, Ahmed, and Bell had two hits apiece in the win.

"Aaliyah (Ahmed) and Karleigh (Bell) were tough outs in game one and gave the team a big spark at the end of the lineup," Hoyt said.

In game two, Cowley got a strong start on the mound from freshman Jaala Nowlin (6-2), as the right-hander did not allow an earned run over six innings of work.

"Jaala really had a strong outing with the defense stepping up and getting outs for her," Hoyt said.

Kyla Bonnarens and McKinzi Sowles each doubled twice and combined to drive in six runs for the Tigers.

"Offensively, we had timely at-bats and longer innings in game two," Hoyt said. "McKinzi Sowles and Kyla Bonnarens were clutch hitters for us."

Highland is now 16-13 overall and 1-5 in the conference.

Cowley will remain home to face Butler Community College in a doubleheader Monday at 2 p.m.
The Grizzlies, winners of 12 games in a row, are 28-8 on the season.

"Butler will be tough; we will have to be sharp on both sides of the game," Hoyt said. "We haven't had a Butler vs. Cowley game in a couple of years, and I am excited to watch our players compete with them."

Score by inning:

Game one                       R H E

Highland 0 0 1 0 0 6 0 – 7 4 1

Cowley    0 1 0 7 0 0 x – 8 11 0

Game two                    R H E

Highland 0 0 0 0 1 0 – 1 6 1

Cowley    2 0 0 0 3 4 – 9 12 2