Tigers blast four home runs, advance in Region VI Tournament

The top-seeded Cowley College baseball team didn't let a slow start to Thursday's game against 16^th-seeded Seward County get them down as they rallied from an early 4-0 deficit to run-rule the Saints 15-4 and win their best-of-three series two games to none. The Tigers advance to play in the Region VI Tournament held May 17-21 at Kansas State University's Tointon Family Stadium.

On Thursday, Tiger starting pitcher J'Briell Easley recorded only four outs before being lifted from the game. Easley was charged with six hits and four runs as Cowley found themselves in a bit of a hole to start.

Chance Cox (7-0), the third Tiger pitcher used, tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings to allow Cowley a chance to come back.

"Chance came in and stabilized the game for us," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said. "Anytime you are in a playoff scenario you are bound to face some adversity. I was glad with the way we fought back and put together some good at bats."

After scratching across a run in the bottom of the second inning, Cowley scored four runs on two hits in the third inning. Three walks and an error in the inning helped the Tigers go in front 5-4.

Cowley busted the game open in the fourth inning as David Herring hit a two-run double and Ty Hammack added a two-run homer in a five-run fourth.

Conner Gore hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning, while Hammack added his second home run of the game in the sixth inning.

Herring's eighth home run of the season, and the Tigers' fourth of the game, finished off the run-rule win in the bottom of the seventh. Herring drove in four runs and scored four times, while Hammack went 4-for-4 with a double, two homers, and four RBI.

"With every good game Ty's confidence grows," Burroughs said.

Catcher Logan Vaughan added a pair of doubles and drove in four runs as Cowley improved its record to 46-9.

Aaron Weber followed Cox on the mound and retired five of the six batters he faced before Miguel Fulgencio came in to strike out the lone batter he pitched against.

Seward starting pitcher Dylan Day walked seven batters and allowed nine runs in 3 2/3 innings. The Satins finish a disappointing season with a record of 14-42.

Cowley will now prepare to face eighth-seeded Butler Community College Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Manhattan, KS. The Grizzlies are 34-22 on the season.

"Butler has a nice club and will throw a good arm against us," Burroughs said. "Every day will be a challenge, but we are looking forward to playing at a great venue and in a great tournament."

Score by inning:           R H E

Seward 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 – 4 8 1

Cowley 0 1 4 5 2 1 2 – 15 12 2