Jackson’s grand slam lifts Tigers to run-rule win over Butler

For the second day in a row the No. 5-ranked Cowley College baseball team used a big inning to rally and win in the NJCAA Plains District (Region VI) Championship played Friday at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina, KS. This time, a grand slam home run by Elijah Jackson capped a nine-run fifth inning that helped lift the Tigers to an 11-3 run-rule win over Butler Community College.

Cowley (45-8) advances to play in the Region VI title game Saturday at 1 p.m. where they will face the winner of the Colby vs. Butler contest played later on Friday. The Tigers need only one more win to capture the Region title and would need to lose twice on Saturday in order to be denied the championship.

"I would like to start a little quicker, but we hung in there and strung together some good at bats in that fifth inning," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "Butler's pitchers made some mistakes and we made them pay."

The homer by Jackson was his second in as many days and gives him seven home runs on the season.

"He has showed that kind of power and put a good swing on the ball," Burroughs said.

After retiring nine straight batters, Tiger starting pitcher J'Briell Easley allowed a solo home run to Butler's Josh Cameron with one out in the top of the fourth inning. The homer was the 24^th of the season for Cameron, who is second nationally in home runs behind only Southern Nevada's Damiano Palmegiani (26 homers).

The Tigers answered back in the bottom half of the fourth when Michelle Artzberger walked, advanced to third on an errant pick off attempt by Butler starting pitcher Garrett DeHaas, and scored on an RBI groundout by shortstop David Herring.

Three walks in the top of the fifth inning came back to haunt Easley when Bryce Zimmer singled home Jaren Jackson with the Grizzlies second run and Cameron hit a sacrifice fly to put Butler in front 3-1. 

Once again, the Tigers had an answer for the Grizzlies in the bottom half of the fifth. This time, Janson Reeder singled home Felix Chenier-Rondeau to pull Cowley within 3-2. Blake Robertson followed with an RBI double to tie the game at 3-3 and put runners at second and third with one out. Two batters later, Gus Freeman hit a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Reeder with the go-ahead run.

With DeHaas relieved on the mound by Corbin Talley, Talley promptly walked Herring before surrendering the grand-slam home run to Jackson. A two-run double by Bryce Madron capped the nine-run uprising.

The Tigers would complete the run-rule win in the bottom of the seventh inning as David Herring led off with a walk and eventually came around to score the game-ending run on an error by the Grizzlies' centerfielder.

Easley went five innings and allowed three hits and three runs as he improved his record to 9-0 on the season. Cole Miller relieved Easley on the mound and tossed two scoreless innings to finish off the victory.

"J'Briell battled his butt off and Cole was awesome," Burroughs said. 

DeHaas went 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, four walks and six runs.

The winner of the Region VI Championship will advance to play May 29-June 4 at the NJCAA Division I JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, CO.

"We are excited to be playing for a region title," Burroughs said. "It's always good to be making out a lineup in late May."                           

Score by inning:          R H E

Butler   0 0 0 1 2 0 0 – 3 5 4

Cowley  0 0 0 1 9 0 1 – 11 7 0