February 15, 2010

Tiger baseball team pulls out thrilling opening season win

Trailing by seven runs entering the eighth inning of its season opener played at Rose State College Saturday in Midwest City, OK, the Cowley College baseball team scored 10 runs over the final two innings of play as they rallied to win 11-8.

“That was Tiger magic at its best,” Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said.

Burroughs is not concerned with wins and losses early in the season as he used nine pitchers and played everyone on his roster in the win.

“We basically go about it as spring training, we would be happy if we win and will work on things if we lose,” Burroughs said.

Cowley trailed 4-0 before scratching a run across the plate in the top of the fifth inning. Redshirt freshman Ruben Marrero walked leading off the inning and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Ronnie Melendez.

Rose State would add a run in the sixth and got a three-run homer by Nate Morrison in the seventh inning to lead 8-1.

Melendez would start the Tigers’ rally in both the eighth and ninth innings as he led off both innings with singles. Cowley’s first six batters reached base to start the eighth thanks to five singles and an error. In the ninth, Cowley benefited from three walks and an error, while Melendez had two of the Tigers’ three hits in the inning.

Melendez went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and two runs scored.

“Ronnie had a good day,” Burroughs said.

Sophomore Chase Webb (1-0) earned the win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Freshman Robbie Rea picked up the save by pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Rea also went 2-for-4 with a RBI, while serving as the team’s designated hitter.

Former Tiger pitcher Harrison Mendez, who transferred to Rose State, was tagged with the loss.

Zach Cargill, last year’s Jayhawk East Freshman of the Year, started the game on the mound and struck out two batters, while retiring the side in order in his lone inning of work.

Cowley will be back in action Wednesday when they play host to Hutchinson at 2 p.m. Tuesday’s regularly scheduled game against Butler has been moved to Thursday at 2 p.m.

“We have to make strides and get a little better every day,” Burroughs said.