Young ties career record for home runs in Lady Tigers’ 18-3 win

Just 40 games into her first season as a member of the Cowley College softball team, freshman Kashilia Young tied the school record for home runs in a career as she belted her 23rd homer in the Lady Tigers’ 18-3 win at Independence Thursday.

Young (pictured), who needed just 24 games to break Cowley’s single-season home run record, is now tied with former Lady Tiger Ashly Bright for home runs in a career.

“She’s had an unbelievable year to this point,” Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove said.

Young’s home run came in her only official at bat as she was walked her other four plate appearances.

Cowley scored nine runs in the first inning and were never threatened in the five inning run-rule win. Danielle Saylor-Perkins’ three-run homer highlighted the big first inning. The homer was Saylor-Perkins’ seventh of the season.

With Jacey Juden and Heather Davis sidelined by injuries, Breayle Tackett picked up the slack and earned the win on the mound. Tackett struck out a season-high six batters and is now 3-3 on the season. Tackett also had a big day at the plate as she went 4-for-5 with four runs batted in.

Colby Hart spurred Cowley’s 16-hit attack as she went 5-for-5 with three RBI’s batting out of the leadoff spot.

The victory assures Cowley of at least a share of its fifth straight conference title as they are now 32-8 overall and 14-1 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. The Lady Tigers need to win just one of their last three conference games to clinch the conference title outright.

“We want to win it outright,” Hargrove said.

Independence is now 3-29 overall and 1-12 in the conference. The second game of the doubleheader was postponed due to rain and will be played Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Independence.