April 14, 2004

Tigers use extra base hit barrage to sweep Independence

Clubbing three home runs in the first game and eight doubles in the nightcap, the Cowley County Community College baseball team swept a doubleheader at Independence Tuesday.

With the first game tied at 5-5 after four innings, Cowley’s Matt VanDeelen relieved Dustin Richardson on the mound. VanDeelen (2-2) went on to allow just one base runner in three innings, while striking out five.

With VanDeelen keeping the Pirates’ bats in check, Cowley got the big hit it needed when sophomore catcher Hunter Harrigan blasted a three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning that turned out to be the difference in the game.

“Matt pitched outstanding; he came in and stabilized the game for us until Hunter hit the big home run,” Cowley assistant coach Darren Burroughs said.

Kellen Linville and Clay Blevins also hit their second home runs of the season. Linville hit a three-run homer in the second to put Cowley ahead 4-1, then Blevins hit a solo shot in the third to make the score 5-2.

Richardson, who had gone the distance in each of his previous four starts, allowed five hits and four earned runs in four innings as he got a no decision. Richardson struck out four, walked two, and hit three batters.

In the second game, Cowley got a hit from every player in its lineup but one, and cruised to a 12-2 win.

Dwayne White had two of the Tigers’ eight doubles in the game, and Chase Ohme smacked a two-run homer in a four-run third inning that helped Cowley break a 1-1 tie. The Tigers went on to score two more runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Cowley outhit Independence 15-7 in the second game, and tallied 24 hits in the doubleheader. Freshman shortstop Daryl Graham went 4-4 in the second game, while Linville, White and Ohme added two hits apiece.

“Up and down the lineup we swung the bats good,” Burroughs said.

Adam Henry (3-2) gave Cowley a solid start on the mound by allowing just seven hits and two runs in six innings. Henry struck out six and walked just one in picking up his third win of the season.

The victories improve Cowley’s record to 24-12 overall and 16-6 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. The Tigers are two games ahead of Kansas City (13-7) for first place in the East.

Cowley will be back in action Thursday when it hosts a doubleheader against Coffeyville at 2 p.m. at City Ball Park.