Cowley baseball team drops two of three at Panola College

The teams opened with a doubleheader on Friday, with the Ponies defeating Cowley 6-3 in game one before the Tigers bounced back to win the second game by a score of 11-3. With the third game on Saturday, Panola run-ruled the Tigers 11-1.

Cowley is now 4-5 on the season, while Panola improves to 12-3.

"We played another good opponent and saw some positives to build on," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "We just have to keep improving."

In Friday's opener, Cowley got a two-run homer from sophomore Quinn Groebl, but it was not enough as the Tigers were out-hit 9-5 in the 6-3 defeat. Quinn and his brother, Holden, combined for four of Cowley's five hits, with the other hit being a triple by Skyler Branam.

Keaton Humphrey (1-1) took the loss, allowing six hits and three runs in three innings pitched. The Ponies hit three home runs off Cowley's pitching, and Panola's Derek DeVos and Brandon Gonzalez combined to strike out nine in the seven-inning win of game one.

Leading 4-2 in game two, the Tigers scored seven runs in the fifth inning, with the big blow coming on a two-run single by Branam, who finished 2-for-2 with three walks, three runs scored, and three runs batted in out of the leadoff spot.

Isaac Worden started on the mound for Cowley and allowed six hits and two runs in three innings. Riley Lile (1-1) followed with two innings of spotless relief before Grady Hoke came on to toss three scoreless innings. Peyton Gosch allowed a run in the ninth before closing out the 11-3 win.

Holden Groebl had another big game, going 3-for-5 with a double and three runs batted in, while freshman shortstop Josiah Sems went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.

When the teams came back to play on Saturday, it was all Panola as the Ponies scored three runs in the first inning and led 8-0 after three innings of play.

Panola starting pitcher Brody Slaten did not allow a hit in his five innings of work, while striking out five and walking four.

Cowley avoided the shutout when Branam walked leading off the sixth inning and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Quinn Groebl.

Cowley was out-hit 11-3, and four Tiger pitchers combined to walk 10 batters. Chance Accord (0-1) started on the mound for Cowley and allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked six.

A bright spot in the defeat was sophomore Jack Hamm tossing 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

After playing three straight weekend series in Texas, the Tigers will return home to play a four-game series against Indian Hills (IA) Community College. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m., followed by two games on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.

"We will face another good opponent this weekend in Indian Hills," Burroughs said. "We are excited to be playing our home-opener."

Score by inning:

Game one                   R H E

Cowley 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 – 3 5 1

Panola  0 0 3 0 3 0 x – 6 9 1

Game two                           R H E

Cowley 1 0 0 0 3 7 0 0 0 – 11 10 0

Panola  1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 3 9 2

Game three                    R H E

Cowley 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 – 1 3 2

Panola  3 0 3 2 0 0 0 3 – 11 10 0