Cowley baseball falls to Hutchinson 8-3

The Cowley College baseball team scored three runs in the first two innings of its game against Hutchinson Thursday at City Ball Park, but failed to score the rest of the way as the Blue Dragons came away with an 8-3 win.

After Hutchinson scored a run in the top of the first inning, Cowley scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning thanks to three walks by Hutchinson starting pitcher Ryan Frevert.

Cowley got an RBI double by designated hitter Tom O’Gorman in the second to increase its lead to 3-1. However, Tiger starting pitcher Luke Zeller failed to make it out of the third inning. Zeller and Chase Roten combined to walk four straight batters in the inning as Hutchinson scored four times in the third.

The Blue Dragons would score two more runs in the fourth inning off Roten as Adam Roy had an RBI single that scored Eric DeBlanc, and Stewart Hoover then doubled down the right-field line to score Matt LaGree.

Cowley relief pitcher Chris O’Brien walked Corey Miller to start the fifth inning and Miller eventually stole home with the game’s final run.

The Blue Dragons (7-4) had only four hits in the game, but took advantage of 12 walks and three wild pitches by six Cowley pitchers. Three of the four Blue Dragon hits produced runs.

Frevert pitched the first three innings for Hutchinson, allowing three runs, three walks and just two hits.

Hutchinson had four relief pitchers combine to shut the Tigers out and allowed just six Cowley base runners in the final six innings.

Scott Keffer (1-0) earned the victory in relief.

O’Brien, Jared Shelton, Zack Potter, and Michael Flanagin combined to hold Hutchinson hitless over the final five innings.

Zeller took the loss for the Tigers. Cowley is now 2-8 on the season. The Tigers will be back in action Saturday when they play at Fort Scott at 1 p.m.