Cowley pitching can’t slow down top-ranked Johnson County

Johnson County (47-2) remains unbeaten in the Jayhawk East at 25-0. Cowley is now 31-16 and 20-5 in the conference.

Former Tiger Logan Groh, who is now at Johnson County, gave the Cavaliers the early lead in game one, hitting a two-run homer only three batters into the game.

Sophomore third baseman Logan Smith answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, and Quinn Groebl hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

However, Tiger starting pitcher Keaton Humphrey (5-2) allowed four runs in the third inning and was relieved by Lucas Weaver after allowing a single to Johnson County's Jack Jones, leading off the top of the fourth. The Cavaliers would go on to score three runs in the fourth and added two more in the fifth to lead 11-4.

Cowley got solo homers from Holden Groebl and Jace Patton in the bottom of the fifth to close within 11-6 and had the bases loaded before Skyler Branam flied out to end the threat.

Johnson County's Braylon Brooks came on to get the final two outs of the fifth inning and then retired the Tigers in order in the sixth and seventh innings to preserve the 11-6 road win. Liam Roche improved to 11-0 despite allowing nine hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings pitched.

Weaver gave the Tigers four innings of solid relief, allowing four hits and two earned runs.

Cowley hit four home runs in the loss and was led by Skyler Branam and Easton Green, who had two hits apiece.

Johnson County designated hitter Brayden Giesler went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and was a home run away from hitting for the cycle, while Groh finished 2-for-4 with three runs batted in.

Game two started well for Cowley as Skyler Branam and Logan Smith hit back-to-back home runs in a three-run first inning for the Tigers.

Sophomore Keegan Robertson got the start on the mound for Cowley in game two and, after retiring the side in order in the first inning, ran into trouble in the second. Robertson recorded only one out in a five-run second inning before being relieved by Hudson Roberts.

Behind a pair of home runs from second baseman Briggs Roe, the Cavaliers would lead 8-4 before Drake Fittro tripled home Josiah Sems and came around to score on a force out by Branam to pull the Tigers within 8-6 after five innings of play.

Johnson County's Boston Bruce and Roe hit back-to-back homers leading off the top of the seventh inning, and three Tiger relievers combined to allow six runs in the top of the eighth as the Cavaliers led 16-6 when the game was halted.

Roe hit three home runs in game two and drove in nine runs in the two games. Johnson County's Ronin Vicenti went 4 2/3 innings on the mound, allowing seven hits and six runs before Cale Sudderth and Lance Alexander combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief.

Cowley had six pitchers combine to allow 12 hits, six walks, and 16 runs. Fittro and Smith led the Tigers at the plate with two hits apiece.

The teams will wrap up the four-game series in Overland Park on Saturday at 1 p.m., beginning with the conclusion of the game that was halted in Arkansas City.

Score by inning:

Game one                       R H E

Johnson 2 0 4 3 2 0 0 – 11 12 1

Cowley   1 2 0 1 2 0 0 – 6 9 1

Game two

Johnson 0 5 1 0 2 0 2 6

Cowley   3 1 0 0 2 0 0 0