No. 5-ranked Tigers run-rule Cloud County 15-4

Getting a pair of home runs from freshman third baseman Logan Smith, the No. 5-ranked Cowley College baseball team run-ruled a Cloud County squad receiving votes in the latest poll by a score of 15-4 on Monday in Arkansas City.

The Tigers improved to 19-5, and Cloud is now 20-9.

On Monday, Cowley trailed 2-0 before Smith hit a three-run homer in a six-run second inning that chased Cloud starting pitcher Evan Bogart from the game.

Cowley would continue to pour it on as Smith hit his second home run, this time a solo shot in a four-run third inning that increased the Tigers' lead to 10-3. Seth Dandridge would add a three-run double in a four-run fourth inning as Cowley went on to the run-rule victory.

Dandridge and Smith went 2-for-3 with four runs batted in and combined to score five runs.

"Both of Logan's home runs were to centerfield, which is impressive in our ballpark," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said.

Freshman second baseman Logan Groh also swung the bat well, finishing a home run shy of hitting for the cycle as he went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, and three runs scored.

Burroughs was also pleased with the play of freshman centerfielder Drake Fittro, who went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a run batted in.

"Drake had a good day defensively and also had some good at-bats," Burroughs said.

Ty Parker (2-0) went the first three innings on the mound for Cowley, allowing five hits and two earned runs.

Ethan Horton, Jack Hamm, and Cameron Mock followed Parker on the mound and combined to allow only two hits and one run in four innings of relief.

Cloud County leadoff hitter Matthew Evans went 3-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in the loss.

Cowley will remain home to open a four-game series against Coffeyville by playing a doubleheader on Thursday at 1 p.m. The Red Ravens (17-7) have won five games in a row and are tied with Cowley and Johnson County atop the Jayhawk East standings with a record of 9-3.

"Coffeyville head coach Jack Martin's teams always play hard, so we expect a battle," Burroughs said.

Score by inning:            R H E

Cloud   2 1 0 1 0 0 0 – 4 7 0

Cowley 0 6 4 4 0 1 x – 15 12 2