Tigers get swept at No. 3-ranked McLennan

The No. 7-ranked Cowley College baseball team found runs hard to come by while being swept in a three-game series played Friday and Saturday at No. 3-ranked McLennan Community College in Waco, TX. Cowley pitched it well but managed only three runs in the three games.

Cowley managed just three hits in a 3-1 loss of the opener. The Tigers followed that up with only three hits in a 2-0 shutout in Saturday's first game before losing 5-2 in the nightcap.

"McLennan threw some really good arms at us," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "These games showed us what we need to do better as a team."

Chance Cox started on the mound for the Tigers in game one and allowed just two hits and one run in three innings pitched, while striking out four and walking none. While, McLellan's Will Clements went the first five inning and allowed three hits before Trey Cehajic came in and retired all six batters he faced.

Sophomore Trayson Miller went 1-for-3 and drove in the lone run for the Tigers.

In Saturday's first game, Tiger freshman Danny Satterlee tossed three scoreless innings before giving way to Brigden Parker, who allowed two runs in the top of the fifth inning. That would be all the runs the Highlanders would need as Stefan Stahl and two relievers combined on the three-hit shutout. Stahl struck out six in his five innings of work and the Highlanders struck out 12 Tiger batters in the win.

Cowley sophomore Carlton Perkins was a bright spot as he struck out four in three innings of scoreless relief.

In the finale, sophomore Ty Hammack doubled and homered for the Tigers but it was not enough in the 5-2 loss. Seven Cowley pitchers combined to walk 12 McLennan batters in the defeat.

Hammack, second baseman Jadyn McNealy, and third baseman Eaden Holt had two hits apiece.

Devin Bennett started on the mound for McLennan and did not allow a run while striking out eight in four innings of work. Five Highlander pitchers combined to strike out 17 Cowley batters in the finale as McLennan improved its record to 12-4 on the season.

"Their pitching exposed our weaknesses, but that will happen when you play good people," Burroughs said.

Cowley, 3-3 on the season, will return home to play a four-game series against Indian Hills Community College beginning Friday with a single game at 1 p.m. The teams will then play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and another nine-inning game Sunday at 1 p.m. The Warriors are 5-3 on the season.

"This weekend will not get much easier for us, but that is why we play these games," Burroughs said. "We hope to continue to improve."

Score by inning:

Game one                         R H E

Cowley      1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 1 3 1

McLennan 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 – 3 6 0

Game two                               R H E

Cowley      0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 3 3

McLennan 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 x – 2 5 0

Game three                            R H E

Cowley      0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 – 2 8 0

McLennan 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 x – 5 8 0