O’Gorman’s homer lifts Cowley past Hutchinson 8-6

Tom O'Gorman's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Cowley College baseball team to an 8-6 win over Hutchinson Sunday night at the Region VI Tournament played at Wichita's Lawrence Dumont Stadium.

O'Gorman's homer, which sailed over the left field fence, scored Brice Cole, who led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. The Tigers overcame a five-run rally by the Blue Dragons as Hutchinson scored two runs in the eighth inning and three more in the ninth to tie the game at 6-6.

After reaching base all five times in the win over Allen County on Saturday, Cole reached base three more times against Hutchinson. While, O’Gorman’s homer was his team-leading ninth of the season.

Cole and O’Gorman (pictured) were the only two returning position players to play for the Tigers in the win over Hutchinson.

“Those two guys kind of picked us up and put us on their backs,” Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said. “They were here last year and made it to the (JUCO) World Series, so they know what it takes to win.”
Cowley advances to play Johnson County today at 4 p.m. The Tigers and Cavaliers are the only unbeaten teams remaining in the tournament. The winner will move on to Tuesday night's championship game at 7 p.m. The loser will play Tuesday at 4 p.m.

O’Gorman said he was waiting on Hutchinson closer Ryan Scoles to throw the slider.

“He’s got a good slider, so I was just hoping to hit it up the middle,” O’Gorman said. “He hung the slider and I was able to stay back on it.”

Cowley starting pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen left the game with one out in the eighth inning and the Tigers leading 6-2. Kohlscheen ended up being charged with nine hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings pitched.

Michael Flanagin allowed one run in 2/3 of an inning pitched, while Chase Roten was charged with two runs, one earned, in one inning of work.

Hutchinson’s three runs in the ninth inning came on just one hit, as they took advantage of a walk, a hit batsman, and a throwing error by Tiger catcher Andy Petz.

However, O’Gorman ended the Blue Dragons thoughts of a come from behind win with the one-out homer in the ninth.

Cowley was out-hit 11-7, but benefited from three Hutchinson errors and three hit batsmen. O’Gorman and Tyson Parks each drove in two runs in the victory.

Roten picked up the win and is now 7-0 on the season.

Hutchinson’s Matthew Yerby, who had just two stolen bases entering Sunday’s game, stole five bases. The Blue Dragons stole nine bases in the loss.

On Saturday, Cowley run-ruled Allen County 16-6 in its first game at the tournament. Cowley rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to win the game in six innings.

The Tigers scored five runs in the second inning, four in the third, six in the fourth, and one more in the sixth.

Cole went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in and four runs scored, while Roten went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Heath Wall also had a big game by going 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI’s.

Tiger starter Calvin Drinnin lasted just 1 1/3 innings on the mound, but Connor Farris came in and stabilized the game for Cowley as he allowed just one earned run over the next 4 1/3 innings. Farris earned the win to improve to 4-2 on the season. Chris O’Brien relieved Farris with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the sixth inning and retired the only batter he faced.

Today’s game can be heard on KACY 102.5 FM Arkansas City. Live streaming audio of the game can be heard at www.kacy.fm.