April 21, 2009

Cowley softball clinches sixth straight conference title

Led by sophomore Jacey Juden pitching her third perfect game of the season, the No. 3-ranked Cowley College softball team shutout Coffeyville in both games of a doubleheader played Monday in Coffeyville as they clinched its sixth straight Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division title.

Juden retired all 15 batters she faced in a 8-0 five-inning win of game one, while Ashley Spencer tossed a two-hitter in a 5-0 win of the second game.

The victories improve Cowley’s record to 40-5 overall and 22-0 in the Jayhawk East.

For Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove this marks his 16th conference title as head coach of the Lady Tigers.
“At the beginning of the season winning conference is always one of our goals,” Hargrove said. “We have bigger goals than winning conference, but with the conference being as tough as it is, year in and year out, you can’t imagine being able to win it six years in a row.”

In the opener against Coffeyville, Juden struck out nine of the 15 batters she faced and also drove in three runs at the plate.

“Jacey is really throwing well and has set herself up to win some postseason honors,” Hargrove said. “She is also the perfect person to be hitting behind Kashilia (Young). When the game is on the line she does something to help the team win.”

Juden is now 14-4 on the mound and is batting .363 with 47 runs batted in at the plate.

In the second game, Spencer struck out seven and walked only one as she improved to 19-0 on the season.

“Ashley wants to do well and has really taken advantage of her opportunity to pitch for us,” Hargrove said.

With Cowley clinging to a 2-0 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning, the Lady Tigers got some breathing room by scoring three times in the seventh. Sarah Hocker led off the inning with a triple and scored on a single by Breayle Tackett, while Juden and Sarah Smith also drove in runs in the inning.

Tackett had two hits in each game of the doubleheader, while third baseman Ali Nittler went 3-for-5 with a double and three runs batted in.

The Lady Tigers will play a doubleheader at Kansas City today at 2 p.m. before hosting Dodge City in their final conference doubleheader Wednesday at 2 p.m.