Lady Tiger softball team rallies to pull off road sweep

After shutting out host Northern Oklahoma College-Enid 3-0 in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader in Enid, OK, the Cowley College softball team scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning of game two to come from behind and win 7-2 and sweep the doubleheader.

Cowley improves its record to 19-8 on the season, while NOC-Enid falls to 8-12.

"It was good to see our team go on the road for a competitive series and get a sweep," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. "NOC Enid has a competitive team, which I thought our pitchers did a great job of keeping their line up off balance and getting our defense routine outs."

In game one, Cowley's Mikah Vann improved her record to 9-3 on the season by pitching a complete game two-hit shutout. Vann struck out seven and walked two.

Cowley scored all three of its runs in the third inning. Jamie Molina had a two-run single in the three-run third, and Shayne Roberts had two of the Lady Tigers' five hits in the victory.

In game two, Cowley turned a rare triple play when Roberts caught a fly ball in centerfield, then fired home to Raelynn Sandlin to get the runner out at the plate, then Sandlin threw the ball to Lyric Perry to complete the triple play.

"We had a couple of defensive plays in game two that helped our momentum for the offensive side," Hoyt said.

With the score tied 1-1, the Lady Jets scratched across a run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. Down to its final three outs, Cowley broke the game open with six runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Sophomore Karleigh Bell tripled and drove in three runs, while Lady Tiger starting pitcher Jaiden Swanson helped her cause at the plate by going 2-for-2. Swanson (9-4) went the distance on the mound, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out five.

"It was good to see Jaiden producing not only from the pitching side but also bringing a bat to our lineup," Hoyt said.

Cowley will play a doubleheader at Barton on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and Butler on Saturday, March 16 at noon.

"This next week will be another test on the road against two competitive teams in Kansas, and we will have to play good softball to win," Hoyt said.

Game one                    R H E

Cowley 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 – 3 4 0

NOC    0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 2 0

Game two                     R H E

Cowley 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 – 7 10 1

NOC    0 0 1 0 0 1 0 – 2 6 2