February 18, 2010

Softball splits doubleheader with Rose State

The Tigers softball team went through a range of emotions in its home doubleheader vs. Rose State on Wednesday. First off, the Lady Tigers celebrated their first win of the season by beating Rose State 4-2 in the opening game. Unfortunately, game two did not go as well as Cowley lost by a score of 17-8.

The 17 runs were the most scored against Cowley since Dodge City scored 19 in the 1989 season.

“Our pitching was not very good in the second game,” Cowley head coach Ed Hargrove said. “Any time you score eight runs you should win the ball game.”

Ashley Spencer, who was tagged with the loss in both games of the Lady Tigers’ season opening doubleheader vs. Northern Oklahoma College on Tuesday, came back with a solid outing in the first game against Rose State. After allowing two runs in the top of the first inning, Spencer settled down to go the distance on the mound. Spencer scattered six hits, while striking out eight.

With Cowley leading 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Rose State put runners on second and third with only one out. Spencer, a returning All-American, did what most great pitchers do in that situation as she pitched her way out of the jam by striking out the last two batters.

Sophomore shortstop Alysha Poteat had two hits and drove in a run in the win, while Spencer helped her cause at the plate by going 2-for-3.

Game two was a game to forget from the start as Rose State scored six runs in the first inning. Rose State scored eight more times off Lady Tiger freshman Starr McLeod in the top of the fourth and added three more runs in the fifth as the game ended in a run-rule.

McLeod allowed 18 hits in 3 2/3 innings as she dropped to 1-1 on the season. Freshman Cassie Schlesener came in to pitch the final 1 1/3 innings and allowed two hits and one run.

Once again, Poteat led Cowley on offense by going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs batted in.
“After four games Alysha is showing she can handle hitting in the No. 3 spot of the lineup,” Hargrove said.
Sophomore Sarah Hocker also added two hits and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot.

Cowley, which is 1-3 on the season, will be back in action today when they play a doubleheader at Bethany College at 3:30 p.m.