Tigers drop rubber match of three-game series at Northeast Texas

Cowley (1-2) started fast, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. The Tigers got an RBI double by Drake Fittro, who came around to score the game's second run on a groundout by Holden Groebl. Freshman Skyler Branam capped the three-run first with a solo home run.

Sophomore Keegan Robertson started on the mound for Cowley and allowed a solo home run to Kaleb Steiger in the bottom of the first inning. Later in the inning, Cameron Reiter had a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3 and later scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball.

Cooper Schwank got the start for the Eagles and allowed the Tigers to tie the game in the top of the second inning as Fittro was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Holden Groebl.

Robertson remained in the game to pitch a scoreless second inning before giving way to Peyton Gosch.

After Logan Rankin put Cowley back in front, 6-4, with a two-run homer in the top of the third inning, the Eagles scored seven runs off Gosch (0-1), who pitched the third and fourth innings.

Cowley trailed 15-7 after five innings and had six pitchers combine to walk 11 batters.

"There are going to be some ups and downs early in the season, but the guys are going to have to do a better job of throwing strikes," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said.

The Tigers trailed 18-10 before scoring five runs in the top of the ninth inning and had the bases loaded when the final out occurred.

Cowley out-hit Northeast Texas 17-11 and had eight extra base hits, while getting home runs from Fittro, Groebl, Branam, and Renken.

Cowley hit six home runs and finished with 19 extra-base hits in the three-game series.

"We showed improvement throughout the series, and I thought the game started to slow down for some of the guys," Burroughs said.

The Eagles' leadoff batter, Luke Nohinek, went 2-for-6 with a home run and six runs batted in.

Cowley will play again in Texas when they take on Tyler Junior College in a three-game series beginning on Thursday at 1 p.m.

"We will look for continued improvement and try to find out what pitchers we can rely on in conference play," Burroughs said.

Score by inning:                      R H E

Cowley     3 1 2 0 1 1 0 2 5 – 15 17 2

NE Texas 4 0 6 1 4 1 1 1 x – 18 11 2