Cowley remains atop conference standings with shutouts of Indy

Using strong pitching and defense, the Cowley College softball team did not allow a run in a sweep of Independence Community College Thursday at Ed Hargrove Field in Arkansas City. The Lady Tigers won the doubleheader by scores of 2-0 and 4-0.

Cowley, winners of 13 games in a row, is now 28-12 overall and tied with Johnson County with a record of 12-0 in the Jayhawk Conference.

Continuing to baffle hitters, Lady Tiger freshman Saige Smith (16-5) picked up her 14^th consecutive win by tossing a complete game shutout in the opener. Smith retired the first 11 batters she faced and scattered three hits, while striking out nine and walking none.

Tye North's two-run single in the bottom of the fourth inning was all the run support needed for Smith.

Independence's Mykala Johnico (9-8) was nearly as dominant as she limited Cowley to four hits to go along with 10 strikeouts and no walks.

Jaala Nowlin (7-2) gave Cowley another stellar start in game two as the freshman had one of her best outings of the season. Nowlin allowed just four hits while tossing the complete game shutout.

"Saige and Jaala both had a great outing," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. "I liked how they both trusted the defense in the double header."

Cowley broke a scoreless tie in game two by scoring four runs in the bottom of the third inning. McKinzi Sowles' RBI double highlighted the four-run third that chased Lady Pirate starting pitcher Graci Buckley from the game.

Johnico relieved Buckley on the mound and did not allow a run over the final three innings.

Emily Louderback had two of Cowley's seven hits in the nightcap.

The Lady Pirates, losers of seven games in a row, are now 15-17 overall and 4-8 in the conference.

The Lady Tigers will play a doubleheader at Kansas City Kansas Community College Saturday at 1 p.m. The Blue Devils are 18-15 overall and 6-4 in the conference.

"We have to offensively be more competitive at KCK and get more base runners to create pressure," Hoyt said.

Score by inning:

Game one                   R H E

Indy     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 3 1

Cowley 0 0 0 2 0 0 x – 2 4 0

Game two                   R H E

Indy     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 4 0

Cowley 0 0 4 0 0 0 x – 4 7 1