Tigers blast Neosho, run win streak to 10

The No. 12-ranked Cowley College baseball team continued its incredible run of pitching in a doubleheader sweep of Neosho County Thursday in Arkansas City. The Tigers needed only five innings to run-rule the Panthers 11-1 in game one before taking the nightcap by a score of 7-2.

Cowley has allowed more than two runs only once during its current 10-game winning streak.

"Our guys have done a good job of throwing strikes," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "In the games we didn't throw strikes we have been in trouble."

The Tigers are now 22-5 overall and 13-1 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division, while Neosho County falls to 12-20 overall and 4-10 in the conference.

In Thursday's opener, it took just two batters into the bottom of the first inning for the Tigers to grab the lead. Leadoff batter Bryce Madron reached base on a dropped fly ball by the right-fielder before Janson Reeder blasted a two-run homer to put Cowley on top 2-0. Ty Hammack would add a run-scoring single as Cowley went on to score four runs in the inning.

The Tigers would go on to score seven more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Madron's two-run triple highlighted the seven-run outburst. Madron is now batting .426 with 30 runs batted in.

"Bryce has been paramount to our success," Burroughs said. "When he is going good we are tough to beat."

Cowley pounded out six extra base hits in the win and were led by shortstop David Herring going 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run batted in.

Sophomore Gant Adler allowed three hits and one run in the five-inning win. Adler struck out five and walked none as he improved his record to 5-0 on the season.

"Grant was awfully good," Burroughs said.

Herring homered in the nightcap, while Madron, Hammack, and catcher Logan Vaughan had two hits apiece for the Tigers.

"We spread our hitting out a little more in the doubleheader and guys showed signs of improvement at the plate," Burroughs said.

Logan Kimbro started on the mound for the Tigers and allowed three hits and one run in three innings pitched. Tanner Vaughn (1-1) followed with two scoreless innings to earn the win.

Carson Pierce and Miguel Fulgencio then combined to retire all nine batters they faced to go along with five strikeouts. Fulgencio has not allowed an earned run in 17 1/3 innings pitched. The left-hander has struck out 23 batters and walked only one.

"Miggy has come along ways as a pitcher," Burroughs said. "He has put in a lot of work to get to where he is at."

The teams will wrap up the four-game series by playing a doubleheader at Neosho County Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

"We want to keep making strides. This game is all about making adjustments," Burroughs said.

Score by inning:

Game one              R H E

Neosho 0 0 0 0 1 – 1 3 1

Cowley  4 0 7 0 x – 11 11 3

Game two                          R H E

Neosho 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 2 7 2

Cowley  0 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 x – 7 9 0