Tigers’ erupt for 24 runs in run-rule victory at JUCO World Series

Getting five runs batted in from both Gus Freeman and Bryce Madron at the Alpine Bank JUCO World Series Tuesday morning at Sam Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, CO, the fifth-seeded Cowley College Tigers run-ruled ninth-seeded Shelton State (AL) Buccaneers 24-11 in eight innings.

With the win, Cowley (47-9) advances to play Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Tigers will face the loser of the Central Arizona vs. San Jacinto-North showdown. Shelton State ends the season with a record of 40-17.

"We had a lot of good at bats and grinded out the win," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "Right now, its just about staying alive in this tournament."

Both Madron and Freeman went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and five RBIs.

"Those guys had great at bats all day," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "They got good pitches to hit and executed."

Outside of Madron and Freeman's big days, Cowley benefitted from a patient approach at the plate that saw them draw 10 walks.

On Tuesday, the Tigers got to Buccaneers' starting pitcher Grant Hickman for six runs in the first inning. After Hickman walked the first two batters, designated hitter Blake Robertson hit a two-run triple to left-centerfield to give Cowley the early lead. Two batters later, catcher Gus Freeman singled home Robertson with the third run of the inning. After two more walks loaded the bases with one out, Hickman was relieved on the mound by Ty Hutto. The right-handed Hutto struck out Felix Chenier-Rondeau before allowing a run-scoring single to Trey DeGarmo and a two-run single by Bryce Madron that put Cowley in front 6-0.

Shelton State got a run back in the bottom of the first inning when Walt Bailey singled home Colby Smelley with the Buccaneers' fist run off Grant Adler, who started on the mound for Cowley.

The Buccaneers' would chase Adler from the game by scoring five runs in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game at 6-6. Miguel Obeso came on in relief of Adler.

Hutto would walk in a run in the top of the third to put Cowley back on top and Janson Reeder singled home another run to make the score 8-6.

However, once again, Shelton State answered back with a run in the bottom of the third to pull within 8-7. The Buccaneer's had a chance to do more damage as they had runners at second and third and only one out before Obeso struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

For the second time in the game, Trey DeGarmo walked with the bases loaded, this time scoring Freeman with the Tigers' ninth run in the top of the fourth inning. Following the walk to DeGarmo, Hutto was relieved by Tanner Giles with the bases loaded and two outs. Bryce Madron greeted Hutto with a bases clearing double to increase the Tigers' lead to 12-7.

Cowley was not done yet as Janson Reeder singled home Cowley's fifth run of the inning.

After the teams traded runs, making the score 14-8, Shelton State chased Obeso from the game by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Obeso allowed six hits and five runs in 2 1/3 innings pitched.

Tiger reliever Isaac Stebens recorded the final three outs of the fifth inning, but then hit a batter and walked another to put runners at first and second with nobody out. However, Stebens proceeded to strike out Nolan Hammonds and got Carson Clowers to ground into a double play to end the threat.

A three- run double off the left-centerfield wall by Freeman pushed Cowley's lead to 17-11 and chased Giles from the game. The Tigers would tack on a fourth run in the inning to make the score 18-11.

Cowley would get run-scoring singles from Reeder and Michelle Artzberger and then back-to-back homers by David Herring and Elijah Jackson in a six-run eighth inning that put the game away.

Stebens (3-0) helped solidify things for the Tigers as he struck out six and allowed just one, unearned run in three innings of work.

"I am proud of him, he brings it every day," Burroughs said.

Arkansas City native Garrett VanDeventer came on to pitch the eighth inning to finish off the win.

Burroughs said no matter who the Tigers face on Wednesday, the team will be ready to go.

"You don't worry about who you are playing, you worry about when," Burroughs said. "We will be excited to play."

Score by inning:                R H E

Cowley  6 0 2 5 1 0 4 6 – 24 18 2 

Shelton  1 5 1 1 3 0 1 2 – 14 17 4