April 4, 2006                    

Tiger baseball team splits a pair of doubleheaders

Splitting a pair of conference doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday, the Cowley College baseball team saw its lead in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division shrink to one game over Neosho County, with whom the Tigers play at today at 1 p.m.

Friday in Iola, Cowley defeated Allen County 6-2 in the first game, but dropped game two by a score of 2-0. Matt Peck (4-1) picked up the win of game one, while Justin Otto (0-2) took the loss in game two despite pitching well.

Allen County is now 21-11 overall and 10-8 in the Jayhawk East.

Cowley returned home to host Fort Scott on Saturday. Five Tiger errors led to a 5-2 loss in the opener. However, Cowley took out some of its frustrations in game two as they pounded out 17 hits in a 14-1 five-inning run-rule win.

Sophomore Jeremy Sheehan was the tough luck loser in game one as the left-hander allowed just four hits and one earned run in 5 1/3 innings pitched. The five Tiger errors led to four unearned runs as Sheehan suffered his first loss in a Cowley uniform after winning his first 11 decisions dating back to his freshman year. Sheehan struck out seven and walked two in falling to 4-1 on the season.

Cowley managed just five hits off Greyhound starting pitcher Lucas Allen, who went the distance on the mound. The Tigers actually led 2-1 after catcher Patrick D’Aoust hit an RBI double in the fourth inning, and later scored on a fielder’s choice ground out by Ryan McMillan. But, Fort Scott scored in each of the final three innings of play as they rallied for the 5-2 win.

In game two, Cowley got a three-run homer by D’Aoust and a two-run triple by Michael Dabbs as they jumped out to a 6-0 lead after one inning of play. After scoring another run in the second, the Tigers put the game away with seven runs on seven hits in the bottom of the fourth inning.

D’Aoust added a three-run double in the seven-run fourth as he finished 3-for-4 with six runs batted in. Dabbs finished 2-for-3 with three RBI’s, while Brett Becker and Blake Mitchell added three hits apiece.

Lost in the Tigers’ hitting barrage was the performance of freshman pitcher Kent Williamson, who struck out seven and walked none in improving to 3-0 on the season. Williamson allowed just five hits and one earned run as he lowered his earned run average to 2.84.

The Tigers are now 21-10 overall and 12-4 in the Jayhawk East. Fort Scott is now 20-14 overall and 9-7 in the conference.

Cowley will now prepare for its important doubleheader at Neosho County today at 1 p.m. The Panthers are currently 20-8 overall and 12-6 in the Jayhawk East.

Score by inning:
Game one                          R H E
Fort Scott 1 0 0 0 2 1 1 — 5 7 0
Cowley     0 0 0 2 0 0 0 — 2 5 5
Game two                    R H E
Fort Scott 0 0 1 0 0 — 1 5 2
Cowley    6 1 0 7 x — 14 17 1