Cowley splits doubleheader with KCK, finishes in third place in the Jayhawk East
Needing to win both games of a doubleheader against Kansas City, Kansas Community College on Saturday in Arkansas City, to finish in second place in the conference, the Cowley College baseball team got the 4-0 win they needed in the opener before losing 7-1 in the nightcap. By splitting the doubleheader, Cowley finishes in third place in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division.
The Tigers finish the regular season with a record of 33-21 and 22-10 in the Jayhawk East. The Blue Devils (38-18) finish second in the conference behind unbeaten Johnson County (32-0) with a record of 24-8.
In Saturday's opener, freshman Grady Hoke (6-4) made his second straight solid start, allowing only one hit in three innings while striking out four and walking none.
Cowley would get on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Drake Fittro doubled home Quinn Groebl with the game's first run. The double by Fittro was his 26th of the season, tying the school record for doubles in a season with Garret Benge set in 2015.
After Fittro stole third, Skyler Branam singled him home to put Cowley in front 2-0.
The Tigers would tack on a pair of runs in the fifth inning and hold on for the 4-0 victory.
After Hoke left the game, Peyton Gosch pitched the next 2 1/3 innings, and Riley Lile followed as the duo combined for 4 hitless innings of relief.
Nick Martensen, the second of four pitchers used by the Blue Devils, took the loss.
With the winner of game two earning second place in the Jayhawk East and the third seed in the district tournament, the game was of great importance to both teams.
Kansas City would score two runs in the third inning and one more in the fourth to chase Cowley's starting pitcher, Chance Acord, with the Blue Devils leading 3-0. Acord (4-5) allowed six hits and three runs in four innings pitched.
The Tigers cut the deficit to 3-1 when Holden Groebl singled leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, stole second, and came around to score on a ground out by Josiah Sems.
KCK would get the run back in the top of the sixth inning to lead 4-1. The Blue Devils would then put the game away with three runs in the ninth inning.
KCK starting pitcher Camden Brashear allowed five hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings, and Caden Howell followed with 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. The Blue Devils out-hit Cowley 13-7 and were led by catcher Reid Oakley, who went 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles.
Logan Smith, Easton Green, and Holden Groebl had two hits apiece in the defeat.
Cowley earned the fifth seed in the Plains District Tournament and will host 12th seed Dodge City (24-29) in a best-of-three game series beginning Thursday at 2 p.m. in Arkansas City. The winner of the best-of-three series will advance to play May 13-17 at Wichita State University's Eck Stadium.
Score by inning:
Game one R H E
KCK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 1 0
Cowley 0 0 2 0 2 0 x – 4 4 0
Game two R H E
KCK 0 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 3 – 7 13 0
Cowley 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 1 7 0