Dominant relief pitching helps Tigers to 5-4 win

Getting eight shutout innings from its bullpen, the No. 10-ranked Cowley College baseball team won its home opener by a score of 5-4 over 16th-ranked Butler Community College Wednesday at City Ball Park.

The Tigers overcame an early 4-1 deficit to pick up its second win of the season. The win came on the heels of the team’s third one-run loss, making the one-run win even sweeter.

“It’s always nice to win a one-run game,” Cowley assistant coach Darren Burroughs said. “We did not give up and did a good job of fighting back. Our relief pitchers came in and did a great job and gave us a chance to win.”

The Tigers had a rather auspicious beginning to the game as Butler’s Dorian Williams led off the game with what appeared to be a routine fly ball to left field, but Nick Snow couldn't see the ball through the glaring sun. The ball bounced off Snow's cap, face and to the left field corner, allowing Williams to speed home on the four-base error.

Calder Cody later drew a bases-loaded walk from Tiger starter Luke Zeller to increase the Grizzlies’ lead to 2-0.

Tom O'Gorman cut Butler's lead in half with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, but Kyle Ewy and Anthony Salinas recorded back-to-back hits to start the second and chase Zeller from the game. Zeller allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits in one inning of work.

Connor Farris relieved Zeller on the mound and allowed a sacrifice fly by Williams and a two-out single by Dylan Petrich to put Butler on top 4-1. However, Farris went on to retire six of the last seven batters he faced as he helped Cowley stay within striking distance.

Curt Simpson, Zack Potter and Stephen Kohlscheen (pictured) followed up Farris' efforts, combining to allow no hits and no runs over the last four innings. Cowley's bullpen allowed no hits over the final 7 1/3 innings and retired the last 14 batters they faced.

Cowley got an RBI single by Andy Petz in the second inning and a RBI triple by Tyson Parks in the third to cut Butler’s lead to 4-3. John Chaisson’s RBI groundout in the fourth tied the game at 4-4.

Snow made up for his earlier miscue in the sixth inning as he led off with a single, stole second and third base, and eventually came around to score what would be the winning run on a wild pitch.

Simpson (1-0) earned the win in relief of Zeller. Kohlscheen retired the side in the ninth to earn his first career save.

Snow finished 2-for-3, while Parks and Petz added two hits apiece.

Micah Busboom started on the mound for Butler and allowed four runs, three hits and two walks in four innings pitched. Darren Parker took the loss for the Grizzlies as he allowed one hit, two walks, and one run in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

Cowley improves to 2-4 with the win, while Butler falls to 4-4.

There was a moment of silence to honor the late Derek Burroughs, son of Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs, prior to the start of the game. The team also wore patches with “D-ROCK” inscribed on their left sleeves.

Cowley will continue its tough early season schedule when they host a doubleheader against fifth-ranked Iowa Western Saturday at 1 p.m.