Simpson tosses no-hitter, Tigers’ run win streak to nine games

Getting a no-hitter from sophomore pitcher Curt Simpson (pictured) and three home runs in two games from freshman Tyson Parks, the Cowley College baseball team ran its winning streak to nine games with a doubleheader sweep of Labette Saturday at City Ball Park.

Simpson struck out five in improving to 4-0 on the season. The right-hander has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings to lower his earned run average to 2.59.

“Curt has pitched really well and dominated Labette pretty good,” Cowley assistant coach Darren Burroughs said. “He worked ahead in the count and threw whatever he wanted for strikes.”

The only base runners Labette managed in the game came on an error and a hit batsman. However, Cowley led only 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning of game one.

Parks’ home run leading off the bottom of the fourth inning gave Cowley the one-run lead. Colt Loehrs led off the fifth inning with a single and his two-run homer later in the inning completed the run-rule win.

Parks had a three-run homer in the nine-run fifth inning and finished the game 3-for-3 with two home runs and four runs batted in.

In game two, Cowley got a RBI double by Luke Zeller and a two-run double by catcher Andy Petz as they raced out to a 3-0 lead after one inning of play. The Tigers’ lead would grow to 5-0 as Parks and Tom O’Gorman hit back-to-back home runs leading off the bottom of the third.

Labette would score its lone run in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Greg Barbaro off Tiger reliever Connor Farris. Four Cowley pitchers combined on a five-hitter.

Chase Roten started on the mound and allowed two hits and no runs in three innings pitched as he improved to 2-0. After Farris allowed one run in two innings, Alex Schell relieved Farris to start the sixth.

Schell retired two of the first three batters he faced before walking Barbaro and Joe Walton to load the bases. Zach Potter relieved Schell on the mound and got Michael Listi to ground out to end the inning.

Potter then worked around the first two batters reaching base in the seventh to record the save.

Parks again went 3-for-3 in the win as he went 6-for-6 with three home runs, a double, and four RBI’s in the doubleheader.

“He was seeing the ball real well,” Burroughs said. “He has got the capability to hit the ball hard.”

O’Gorman had two hits in the nightcap and went 3-for-6 with a home run, double, and three runs scored in the two games.

Cowley is now 22-11 overall and 19-3 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Labette falls to 9-18 overall and 3-15 in the conference.

The Tigers will be back in action Tuesday when they host Allen County in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. The Red Devils are 19-15 overall and in fourth place in the Jayhawk East with a conference mark of 12-10.

“Allen has got a nice club and has some good arms,” Burroughs said. “We have got to stay within our game plan.”