April 6, 2009

Tigers hit nine home runs in sweep of Labette

Having hit only seven home runs in its first 30 games, the Cowley College baseball team broke out the heavy lumber Saturday at Labette Community College as they belted nine home runs in a pair of lopsided wins over the Cardinals.

Taking advantage of the wind blowing out, six Tiger players hit their first home runs of the season. Cowley hit six home runs in the 19-5 six-inning win of game one, and added three more home runs in a 7-0 win of game two.

“It makes it a little easier when you have power production like that,” Cowley assistant coach Darren Burroughs said. “It was good to get two wins on the road.”

Of the seven Tiger players that homered in the doubleheader, only B.J. Misialek had homered in a game this season. Misialek, who had one home run entering Saturday, went 4-for-4 with two home runs and five runs batted in in the opener. Ryan Hege also added two home runs and five RBI in game one. While, Luke Zeller and Colt Loehrs added home runs in the 19-5 win.

Leading 10-5 after five innings of play, Cowley blew the game open by scoring nine runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Stephen Kohlscheen (4-1) earned the win on the mound. Kohlscheen allowed four hits and five runs in five innings pitched. He also struck out five and walked three. Stephen Spirlock pitched a scoreless inning of relief to cap the win.

Cowley’s Alex Schell (3-1) tossed a complete game shutout in game two. Schell allowed only three hits, while striking out five and walking none. The complete game was the second in a row for Schell.

“Alex pitched a really good game,” Burroughs said.

Chance Ross helped Cowley pick up where it left off from the first game as he homered with one out in the top of the first inning to give Cowley an early 1-0 lead. Cowley got a two-run homer by Mac Gordon and a three-run home run by Ronald Melendez in a five-run fourth inning as its lead grew to 6-0.

Mac Gordon’s RBI single in the seventh finished the scoring. Gordon and Melendez each finished with two hits, a home run, and three RBI.

The wins improve Cowley’s record to 23-9 overall and 14-4 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. The Tigers will host Highland in a doubleheader Wednesday at 1 p.m.