April 23, 2009

Tigers pick up another sweep of Neosho County

Playing a doubleheader against Neosho County for the second time in three days, the results were the same as the Cowley College baseball team swept both games Wednesday in Chanute. Cowley, which is ranked 17th in the latest NJCAA rankings, won the first game 9-1 and took the nightcap by a score of 8-3.

“To go on the road against a quality opponent and sweep a doubleheader is a pretty good day,” Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said.

With the wins, the Tigers continue to lead the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division by two games over second place Johnson County. Cowley, winners of seven games in a row, is now 36-11 overall and 26-6 in the Jayhawk East. Johnson County swept doubleheaders against Independence on Tuesday and Labette on Wednesday to move to 22-6 in the conference.

In game one on Wednesday, Cowley starting pitcher Caleb Bass had a perfect game through four innings as Cowley built a 6-0 lead. The Panthers finally scored in the fifth as Bass allowed just two hits and one run in five innings pitched. Bass (1-0) struck out seven and walked none as he earned his first win of the season.

“Bass threw really good,” Burroughs said.

Ronald Melendez had three of Cowley’s 15 hits and drove in four runs, while Robert Thomas added two hits and two RBI.

In game two, Calvin Drinnen returned to the mound after missing the past month with an injury and gave the Tigers four solid innings. Drinnen allowed only three hits and one run but did not factor in the decision as he left with Cowley trailing 1-0.

“Having Calvin back gives us more depth heading into the Sub-Regional,” Burroughs said.

Luke Zeller led off the top of the fifth inning with a triple and came around to score the tying run on a double by Ryan Hege. A pair of errors by the Panthers allowed Cowley to score two more runs in the inning and lead 3-1.

After starting the rally in the fifth inning, Zeller delivered a three-run homer in the sixth to put Cowley ahead 6-1. Neosho County scored a couple of runs off Tiger reliever Michael Flanagin in the bottom of the sixth, but Cowley got the runs back on a two-run homer by Bass in the seventh.

Bass and Zeller each finished with two hits, while Melendez again went 3-for-4 at the plate. Flanagin struck out five in three innings of relief.

Neosho County is now 22-18 overall and 17-9 in the Jayhawk East. Cowley will be back in action today when they host Fort Scott (25-22) in a doubleheader at 2 p.m.

“Today is a big day,” Burroughs said.