March 15, 2006

 Tiger baseball remains hot with sweep of Neosho County

Going up against a Neosho County squad that was 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division, the No. 9-ranked Cowley College baseball team served notice to the rest of the league that they are still the team to beat as they swept a doubleheader against the Panthers Tuesday at City Ball Park.

“In the scope of things you can’t get too excited about this, but it was good to get the wins,” Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said.

The Tigers, winners of each of the last two Jayhawk East titles, won the first game 9-4, and then scored nine runs in the sixth inning of game two to run-rule the Panthers 12-2.
After starting the season with a record of 3-4, Cowley has won 10 of its last 11 games as they are now 13-5 overall and 4-0 in the Jayhawk East.

In game one, the Tigers rallied from a 4-2 deficit by scoring six runs in the fifth inning. Brad Miller’s two-run triple gave Cowley a 5-4 lead, and two batters later sophomore catcher Patrick D’Aoust blasted a three-run homer. The home run was D’Aoust’s third home run in the last six games.

“That’s what big time players are supposed to do,” Burroughs said.  “Those two guys have got to lead the way and everybody else has got to follow.”

Jeremy Sheehan started on the mound for the Tigers in game one and did not factor in the decision as he allowed seven hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched. J.C. Bredengerd (1-0) picked up the win as he got the final out in the top of the fifth inning.

Kendall Cogan pitched the final two innings and retired all six batters he faced, including four strikeouts.

“Cogan was absolutely outstanding again,” Burroughs said.

In game two, Cowley was clinging to a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. However, the Tigers sent 13 men to the plate and scored nine runs in the sixth as they ended the game with a 12-2 run-rule win.

D’Aoust went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI’s in the win, and finished 5-for-6 with seven runs batted in in the doubleheader. Brent Hodge and Zach Berg also played well as they each finished with two hits and two RBI’s in the nightcap.

Kent Williamson (1-0) picked up the win as he allowed three hits and two runs in four innings pitched. Justin Otto pitched two scoreless innings of relief to finish off the win.

Cowley, which is 8-0 at home this season, will host Crowder College in a nine-inning game Thursday at 5 p.m. The Tigers beat Crowder 12-10 in their season opener.

“It will be interesting to see how both team’s have progressed from the first game until now,” Burroughs said.

Score by inning:

Game one

Neosho 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 — 4 7 1
Cowley 0 1 0 1 6 1 x — 9 4 2

Game two

Neosho 0 0 0 2 0 0 —   2 4 3
Cowley 0 3 0 0 0 9 — 12 9 1