May 25, 2009

Tigers’ rally falls just short in 10-9 loss to Santa Fe

Falling behind Santa Fe Community College 10-2 after three innings of play, the Cowley College baseball team rallied to within one run of the Saints before losing 10-9 Monday at the JUCO World Series played in Grand Junction, Co.

Mac Gordon, who’s three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning cut the Tigers’ deficit to 10-8, had a run-scoring infield single in the bottom of the eighth to pull Cowley within one-run of the Saints. With runners at first and third and one out, Tiger sophomore Andy Petz ground into a double play to end the threat.

After Chase Webb finished off his second inning of scoreless relief, Cowley got its leadoff man on base to start the ninth as pinch hitter Caleb Bass singled up the middle off Santa Fe reliever Andy Mee. Luke Zeller laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Bass to second with one out, but Mee got Ronald Melendez and Chance Ross to pop out to end the game.

The Tigers’ stranded 10 runners on base as they fell to 48-14 on the season. Santa Fe improves to 34-20. Cowley will play Spartanburg Methodist College Tuesday at noon central standard time, while Santa Fe will take on San Jacinto College-North at 8:30 CST.

For the second straight game the Tigers offense got started early but its starting pitching was not up to par. Also, for the second consecutive game, Cowley had to sit out a lengthy rain delay. This time, the rain halted the game with Santa Fe leading 3-2 in the bottom of the first inning.

Cowley’s Ronald Melendez opened the game with a leadoff single, advanced to second on a ground out by Chance Ross, and came around to score on a home run by Tiger second baseman B.J. Misialek. The homer by Misialek was his second of the World Series, both coming in the first inning.

However, Cowley starting pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen allowed three straight hits to start the bottom of the first inning, the big blow coming on centerfielder Keon Broxton’s two-run homer. Ryan Mathews added a sacrifice fly that scored Andy Mee with the Saints’ third run of the first inning.

Santa Fe would chase Kohlscheen from the game in the bottom of the third as they struck for seven runs and seven hits before John Maler relieved Kohlscheen on the mound. The Saints scored six times before Cowley was able to record an out in the third as Santa Fe led 10-2 after three innings of play.

Maler retired both batters he faced in the third and pitched into the seventh inning as he gave Cowley 3 2/3 innings of stellar relief. Maler struck out the side in order in the bottom of the fifth and struck out four batters in the game. Webb finished off the Tigers’ 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Colt Loehrs homered leading off the fourth inning to cut the Tigers’ deficit to 10-3 but the Tigers wasted an opportunity for more as Melendez lined out to right field with runners on first and second.

Cowley got two more runs in the fifth to cut its deficit to 10-5 as Loehrs had an RBI single and Mac Gordon delivered a run scoring sacrifice fly. However, the Tigers stranded two more base runners as Frank Specht flew out with runners at first and second.

The wasted scoring opportunities would come back to haunt the Tigers. Kohlscheen (9-3) took the loss, while Gary Merians earned the win for Santa Fe. Merians allowed 10 hits and seven runs in six innings pitched. Shane McIntire allowed the three-run homer to Gordon on his first pitch and lasted only one inning before giving way to Daley Cox and Andy Mee.

Gordon finished 3-for-4 with five runs batted in, while Colt Loehrs and B.J. Misialek hit their second home runs of the World Series in the defeat. Ryan Mathews homered and drove in three runs for Santa Fe.

In other games, Middle Georgia was eliminated from the JUCO World Series on Monday as they lost to Western Nevada 11-6. There are now seven teams remaining in the 10-team tournament, with only three teams without a loss.

Tuesday’s game can be heard on KSOK Radio 1280 AM.