Tigers upend Hutchinson for second time in a week
March 27, 2019
Five Cowley College baseball pitchers combined to hold Hutchinson Community College scoreless the final eight innings of Tuesday's home game in a 7-1 win over the Blue Dragons.
Making his first collegiate start, Tiger freshman Jack Carneal (1-0) allowed a leadoff home run to Hutchinson's Will Reetz. However, that would be the only run Carneal would allow in his five innings pitched.
"Being young and inexperienced things could have unraveled for Jack, but he settled down and did a good job on the mound," Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said.
Reetz came up to bat again in the top of the second inning with runners at first and second and one out, but this time Carneal got him to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Freshman LJ McDonough (0-2), the owner of a 14.29 ERA, started on the mound for Hutchinson and allowed a game tying home run to Tiger freshman Tyler Halstead in the bottom of the second inning. The homer by Halstead was the first of his collegiate career.
Three straight singles with two outs in the second inning produced the Tigers' second run as Cody Milligan's single scored Cade Stephens to put Cowley in front 2-1.
Zach Philbin replaced McDonough on the mound and pitched a scoreless fourth inning before being charged with three runs in a four-run fifth inning for the Tigers. Freshman Logan Steenstra hit a two-run double down the left field line and fellow freshman Cade Stephens followed with a two-run double off the centerfield wall, making the score 6-1 in favor of the Tigers.
With Grant Wilson striking out the side in the top of the sixth inning and Cowley pitchers Adam White, Austin Neal, and Ethan Swanson each tossing a scoreless inning of relief, Grady Davenport's RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning capped the 7-1 victory.
"When you pitch, play defense and get timely hitting you give yourself a chance to win," Burroughs said.
Wilson has not allowed a run in his 5 1/3 innings pitched this season. The freshman has struck out 10 and walked only two during that span.
"He and Austin were both outstanding on the mound," Burroughs said.
Davenport had three of Cowley's 10 hits to raise his average to .412, while Stephens went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Milligan, who started behind the plate, also played well as he went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Milligan, who is batting .392, leads the Tigers with 18 stolen bases.
"That speaks well of his athletic ability," Burroughs said. "He's the kind of athlete that can play catcher or shortstop."
Cowley, winners of six games in a row, improves its record to 18-6 on the season. The loss drops Hutchinson's record to 16-12.
The Tigers will open a four-game series against Highland Community College when they host the Scotties in a doubleheader Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. The Scotties are 2-22 overall and 0-12 in the Jayhawk East.
"We are getting better, but there is always stuff to work on," Burroughs said.
Score by inning: R H E
Hutchinson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0
Cowley 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 1 x 7 10 1
Making his first collegiate start, Tiger freshman Jack Carneal (1-0) allowed a leadoff home run to Hutchinson's Will Reetz. However, that would be the only run Carneal would allow in his five innings pitched.
"Being young and inexperienced things could have unraveled for Jack, but he settled down and did a good job on the mound," Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs said.
Reetz came up to bat again in the top of the second inning with runners at first and second and one out, but this time Carneal got him to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Freshman LJ McDonough (0-2), the owner of a 14.29 ERA, started on the mound for Hutchinson and allowed a game tying home run to Tiger freshman Tyler Halstead in the bottom of the second inning. The homer by Halstead was the first of his collegiate career.
Three straight singles with two outs in the second inning produced the Tigers' second run as Cody Milligan's single scored Cade Stephens to put Cowley in front 2-1.
Zach Philbin replaced McDonough on the mound and pitched a scoreless fourth inning before being charged with three runs in a four-run fifth inning for the Tigers. Freshman Logan Steenstra hit a two-run double down the left field line and fellow freshman Cade Stephens followed with a two-run double off the centerfield wall, making the score 6-1 in favor of the Tigers.
With Grant Wilson striking out the side in the top of the sixth inning and Cowley pitchers Adam White, Austin Neal, and Ethan Swanson each tossing a scoreless inning of relief, Grady Davenport's RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning capped the 7-1 victory.
"When you pitch, play defense and get timely hitting you give yourself a chance to win," Burroughs said.
Wilson has not allowed a run in his 5 1/3 innings pitched this season. The freshman has struck out 10 and walked only two during that span.
"He and Austin were both outstanding on the mound," Burroughs said.
Davenport had three of Cowley's 10 hits to raise his average to .412, while Stephens went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Milligan, who started behind the plate, also played well as he went 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Milligan, who is batting .392, leads the Tigers with 18 stolen bases.
"That speaks well of his athletic ability," Burroughs said. "He's the kind of athlete that can play catcher or shortstop."
Cowley, winners of six games in a row, improves its record to 18-6 on the season. The loss drops Hutchinson's record to 16-12.
The Tigers will open a four-game series against Highland Community College when they host the Scotties in a doubleheader Thursday beginning at 1 p.m. The Scotties are 2-22 overall and 0-12 in the Jayhawk East.
"We are getting better, but there is always stuff to work on," Burroughs said.
Score by inning: R H E
Hutchinson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0
Cowley 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 1 x 7 10 1