Pitching leads Lady Tigers to wins over Kansas State club team

Led by strong starting pitching from Heather Davis and Jacey Juden, the No. 8-ranked Cowley College softball team ran its winning streak to eight games with wins of 9-1 and 6-0 over the Kansas State University club team Saturday at Lady Tiger Field.

Davis allowed just one hit in the five-inning run-rule win of game one as she improved her record to 13-1 on the season. She also hit a three-run homer in the Lady Tigers’ four-run third inning.

“It was another really good outing by Heather,” Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove said.

Kashilia Young (pictured) added to her school-record for home runs in a season as she belted her 16th home run to put Cowley on top in the first inning. Freshman Erin Floyd came on to pinch hit in the fifth inning and homered to cap the run-rule win. The homer was the first of the season for Floyd.

“I felt good for Erin, she got a good pitch and hit it,” Hargrove said.

In game two, Juden struck out nine and walked none in tossing a complete game four-hitter. The win improves Juden’s record to 9-3 on the season.

“Jacey continues to make progress and is really coming along,” Hargrove said.

Juden helped her cause at the plate as her single in the first inning scored Colby Hart with the game’s first run. Jessica Sanchez doubled leading off the second and scored on a RBI single by Kim Noble.

Sanchez also had an RBI single in the third inning and a two-run single in the fifth as she went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in. Sanchez raised her average to .378, while playing a platoon role for the Lady Tigers.

“We are probably going to have to get her in the line up more as we go along,” Hargrove said.

Breayle Tackett and Sarah Smith continued their torrid hitting by finishing with two hits apiece. Tackett is batting .470 on the season, while Smith is hitting .452.

The Lady Tigers are now 22-4 on the season. Cowley will host Kansas City in a doubleheader Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Lady Blue Devils are 3-12 overall and 2-4 in the Jayhawk East.