Tiger baseball team completes home and away sweep of No. 12-ranked Hutchinson
Playing a midweek contest at No. 12-ranked Hutchinson Community College on Tuesday, the Cowley College baseball team defeated the Blue Dragons for the second time in two weeks, this time by a score of 11-3.
After rallying to defeat Hutchinson 21-20 on March 17 in Ark City, the Tigers never trailed in Tuesday's victory as they swept the two regular-season games played between the teams. Cowley improves its record to 19-13, and Hutchinson falls to 29-6.
On Tuesday, the Tigers got a solid start on the mound from freshman Peyton Gosch (1-2). The righthander earned his first win, allowing four hits and two runs in four innings, while striking out five and walking none. Gosch left with Cowley leading 3-2.
"Peyton located his pitches well and pitched with a lot of confidence," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said.
A two-run triple by freshman Easton Green capped a three-run top of the fifth inning, which increased the Tigers' lead to 6-2.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Jace Patton made a diving stop of Jordan Kuhnau's hard-hit ground ball up the middle and got the force out at second to end the threat.
Cowley would tack on three more runs in the sixth inning and cruised to the 11-3 win.
Tiger relievers Jake Hobbs, Hudson Roberts, Carter Rose, Stetson Etheridge, and Lucas Weaver combined for five innings of relief, allowing only two hits and one run.
Hutchinson's Kolby Heskett (0-1), the first of seven pitchers used by the Blue Dragons, took the loss despite allowing only two hits and one unearned run in three innings pitched.
Cowley scored at least one run against six of Hutchinson's seven pitchers and out-hit the Blue Dragons 13-6.
Sophomore third baseman Logan Smith led Cowley by going 4-for-5 with two doubles and a run batted in.
"Logan did a good job of going the other way with pitches and used the whole field," Burroughs said.
First baseman Quinn Groebl added three hits and a pair of runs scored.
Cowley will play a doubleheader vs. Labette on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Pittsburg State University before returning to Ark City to host the Cardinals in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Score by inning: R H E
Cowley 0 0 1 2 3 3 1 1 0 – 11 13 0
Hutch 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 – 3 6 3