Cowley softball suffers first conference defeat

Coming off a 9-1 run-rule win in the first game of a doubleheader against Johnson County Tuesday at Lady Tiger Field, the No. 6-ranked Cowley College softball team had a pair of miscues in the second game, which helped the Lady Cavaliers rally for a 10-9 win.

The loss was the Lady Tigers first in conference play as they are now 31-8 overall and 13-1 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Johnson County is now 19-8 overall and 8-4 in the conference.

Cowley needed just five innings to win the opener as they had hits from eight different players. Kashilia Young belted her 22nd home run in the win, while Colby Hart went 2-for-4 with four runs batted in.

Jacey Juden allowed just four hits and one run in five innings pitched as she improved to 15-4 on the season.

In the nightcap, Cowley’s Sara Smith hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Lady Tigers ahead 6-4. However, the good feeling did not last long as Cowley gave Johnson County several extra outs in the top of the sixth inning.

In the sixth, Cowley allowed two pop ups in foul territory to drop, dropped a fly ball in the outfield, and botched a run down between third base and home plate. The miscues led to the Lady Cavaliers scoring six runs in the inning.

“It’s disappointing when you run-rule them in the first game and then go out and kick the ball around and let them have a big inning on you in the second game,” Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove said.

Cowley tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh as they scored three times to cut the Lady Cavaliers’ lead to 10-9. However, with Kim Noble at second base and only one out, Danielle Saylor-Perkins struck out and Emily Zimmerman grounded out to end the game.

Perkins (pictured) hit her sixth home run of the season earlier in the game and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Breayle Tackett suffered the loss on the mound for the Lady Tigers and is now 2-3 on the season.

Juden allowed five hits and no earned runs in two innings of relief. Juden was hit in the collar bone by a line drive in the sixth inning. Although she was able to finish the game, her playing status is listed as day to day.

The Lady Tigers will be back in action Thursday when they play a doubleheader at Independence at 3 p.m.