March 2, 2004

Tigers rally in ninth for 11-10 win

In a game that featured five lead changes, the No. 9-ranked Cowley County Community College baseball team scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Northern Oklahoma College of Enid 11-10 Saturday at City Ball Park.

NOC took a 4-0 lead with four runs in the top of the second inning, but Cowley answered with five runs in the bottom half of the second inning. Kellen Linville had a two-run double in the inning, while Dwayne White's three-run double capped the five-run uprising by the Tigers.

The Jets regained the lead with three more runs in the third off Cowley starting pitcher Travis Kliewer, who allowed seven runs in his three innings on the mound. Only two of the runs charged to Kliewer were earned, however.

Again, Cowley came back to grab a one-run lead at 8-7 as it scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers capitalized on three NOC errors in the inning.

After Cowley's Landon West tossed three innings of scoreless relief, NOC came back to tie the game at 8-8 with a run off Blake Dickson in the top of the seventh.

NOC wasn't done as it went back on top 9-8 on catcher Justin Delay's solo home run off Matt VanDeelen with two outs in the eighth.

Cowley took advantage of another NOC error in the bottom of the eighth to score White with the tying run.

With the score tied at 9-9 in the top of the ninth, NOC's Ryan Williams came through with a two-out run-scoring single off closer Ronnie Phillips (2-0) to put the Jets ahead 10-9.

Again, sloppy play came back to haunt NOC in the bottom of the ninth as Cowley scored two runs without the benefit of a hit.

After Brian Freeman struck out to lead off the ninth, Chase Ohme and Steven Wright drew walks. Linville then reached on an error to load the bases, and NOC's Cameron Karner was charged with a balk that scored Ohme with the tying run.

Karner's next pitch was mishandled by Delay, allowing Wright to score the winning run from third base.

NOC out-hit Cowley 12-9, but committed eight errors. White led Cowley with four runs batted in, while Linville went 2-6 with two RBI and two runs scored.

The victory improves Cowley's record 4-3 on the season. The Tigers will now prepare to play host to Connors State College Tuesday at 2 p.m.