Morris throws second straight shutout to help Lady Tigers reach semifinals

Cowley (31-21) advances to the semifinals of the Region VI Tournament and will face top-seed Johnson County on Friday at 2 p.m. Kansas City (36-20) will face fifth-seed Labette today at 10 a.m. in the double-elimination tournament.

On Thursday, Cowley got the scoring started quickly as they led 1-0 after Taverli Tennant's run-scoring double only three batters into the game. Carsen Carpenter followed with an RBI single, scoring Tennant with the game's second run. The next batter, Hannah Howard, who hit three doubles on Wednesday, hit a two-run homer to cap the Tigers' four-run first inning.

Cowley chased Kansas City starting pitcher Rebecca Castillo (14-13) from the game, with the pitcher retiring only one batter and being charged with all four runs.

Morris helped her cause at the plate by hitting a run-scoring groundout in the bottom of the third inning to increase Cowley's lead to 5-0.

That would be the only run the Lady Tigers would score off of Blue Devil reliever Alaina Mendez, as the right-hander allowed only two hits and no earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of relief.

Morris worked around traffic on the basepaths nearly every inning, stranding at least one runner on base in each inning but one. Still, she managed to rely on her defense and ability to throw strikes to go the distance on the mound for a second straight day. Morris allowed six hits and three walks in seven innings while improving her record to 18-8.

Cowley was out-hit 6-5 and has been out-hit in both games of the tournament despite outscoring its opponents 9-0.

The winner between Cowley and Johnson County will advance to the region championship on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Score by inning:           R H E

KCK     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 6 1

Cowley 4 0 1 0 0 0 x – 5 5 0