February 9, 2009

Tiger baseball falls short in home opener

Two days after thumping Butler Community College 14-2 in El Dorado, the Cowley College baseball team could not generate much offense in a 4-1 loss to Butler Saturday at City Ball Park.

Cowley left two runners on base in each of the first two innings. They managed just two base runners over the next five innings combined.

“We don’t want to get in a habit of leaving guys on base because it can come back and get you, and it did,” Cowley assistant coach Darren Burroughs said.

Freshman Zach Cargill started on the mound for the Tigers and allowed no hits and no runs in his two innings of work. Sophomore John Maler relieved Cargill on the mound and retired the side in order in the third inning. However, Butler scored a run off Maler (0-1) in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead.

The Grizzlies would add a run off freshman Randon Ridling in the fifth to increase its lead to 2-0. Errors by the Tigers in the sixth and seventh inning would lead to a pair of unearned runs, as Butler would go on top 4-0.

Cowley got a run back in the eighth as Luke Zeller singled with one out, advanced to second on a walk to Frank Specht, and eventually scored on a two-out single by Ryan Hege. With runners at first and second, designated hitter Mac Gordon flied out to end the eighth.

The Tigers would put two men on base in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to a walk and an error, but Zeller grounded out to end the game. Zeller was the lone Tiger to have more than one hit as he finished 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Cowley used seven pitchers in the game as Butler out-hit the Tigers 9-6.

“It was just the second game of the year, so we are still trying to feel our way a little bit,” Burroughs said.

Connor Sinclair picked up the win for the Grizzlies as he allowed one hit and no runs in four innings pitched. Sinclair struck out three and walked two.

Both teams are now 1-1 on the season. Cowley will next play at No. 18-ranked Seminole State Tuesday at 2 p.m.

“It doesn’t get any easier, Seminole has got a nice club,” Burroughs said.