April 7, 2004
Neosho rallies to split doubleheader with Cowley
CHANUTE — With a golden opportunity to sweep a doubleheader at Neosho Tuesday, the Cowley County Community College baseball team gave up four runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two, and lost 9-8.
After winning the first game 5-0 behind another strong outing from sophomore pitcher Dustin Richardson, Cowley led game two 8-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman Matt VanDeelen (1-2), who relieved Trey Randa with one out in the bottom of the third inning, allowed just one run in 3 1/3 innings before the Panther’s four-run uprising.
VanDeelen got two outs to start the sixth before hitting Dominick Harrell with a pitch. Kirby Mize followed with a base hit, and Chance Myatt came through with an RBI single to cut the Tigers’ lead to 8-6. Then came the big blow as Jeff Schlosser belted a three-run homer to give the Panthers the lead for good. Neosho’s Matt Petty struck out the side in the top of the seventh to preserve the win.
“We let one slip away,” Cowley assistant coach Darren Burroughs said. “We found a way to lose instead of finding a way to win.”
Cowley outhit Neosho 14-6. Clay Blevins and Matt Webb led the Tigers with three hits apiece. Blevins drove in a run and scored twice, while Webb drove in two runs and scored two more.
In the opener, Richardson (5-1) tossed his fourth straight complete game as he allowed just three hits in seven innings. Richardson also struck out six and walked three in recording his fifth win of the season.
“He had a little trouble in the first inning, but then threw four straight 1-2-3 innings, which let us get control of the game,” Burroughs said.
Leading 2-0 in the top of the fifth, Cowley broke the game open thanks to an RBI double by Brandon Harrigan and a two-run single by Daryl Graham. Graham finished with two of the Tigers’ five hits in the win.
Cowley is now 21-11 overall and 13-5 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Neosho moves to 12-11 overall and 7-7 in the conference. The Tigers will be back in action Thursday when they host Labette in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
Labette is last in the Jayhawk East with a record of 3-7, but Burroughs knows his team will not overlook the Cardinals.
“Every doubleheader is a big doubleheader,” Burroughs said.
Game One |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
Cowley |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
Neosho |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
Game Two |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
Cowley |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
14 |
1 |
Neosho |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
x |
9 |
6 |
2 |
