Cowley softball splits conference opening doubleheader at Fort Scott

Cowley is now 13-15 overall and 1-1 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. The Greyhounds (7-15) were also playing their first conference games of the season.

In game one, Cowley led 2-1 before busting the game open with five runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Dacey Morris (7-6) earned the victory on the mound as she pitched into the seventh inning before Madison Baker came in to record the final two outs. Morris allowed eight hits and two runs while striking out two and walking one.

Taylor Clay led the Tigers by going 3-for-4 with four runs batted in. Gracy Smith also played well, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Fort Scott's Makenna Lawson allowed eight hits, but only one earned run, as Cowley benefited from six Greyhound errors.

Game two of the doubleheader was a pitchers' duel with Cowley's Hannah Howard and Fort Scott's Aubrey Kinsey each going the distance on the mound. Neither pitcher issued a walk and allowed runs in only one inning.

Fort Scott broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth inning and maintained the 3-0 lead until the top of the seventh.

Down to its final at-bat, Cowley got RBIs from Hannah Howard and Dacey Morris in the top of the seventh inning before Kinsey got the final out to preserve Fort Scott's 3-2 win.

Howard (4-3) allowed four hits and three runs in six innings, while striking out one. Kinsey (4-8) scattered six hits in seven innings, while striking out three.

Cowley will return home to face Labette in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Cardinals are 11-15 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

Score by inning:

Game one                     R H E

Cowley  1 0 1 0 0 0 5 – 7 9 2

Ft. Scott 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 – 2 8 6

Game two                     R H E

Cowley  0 0 0 0 0 0 2 – 2 6 2

Ft. Scott 0 0 0 3 0 0 x – 3 4 1