Cowley hits four home runs, advances to play at Wichita State University
The No. 5-seed Cowley College baseball team scored three runs in each of the first two innings of Friday’s game against the 12th-seed Dodge City Conquistadors and went on to a 10-5 victory and win of the best of three sub-regional two games to none.
The Tigers improve to 35-21 and advance to play fourth-seed Hutchinson Community College on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Wichita State University's Eck Stadium.
On Friday, Cowley got a two-run double from Hudson Roberts in a three-run first inning and back-to-back home runs from Skyler Branam and Logan Smith in the second inning to increase its lead to 6-0.
Dodge City would go on to score two runs in the third inning and a run in the fourth to chase Cowley starting pitcher Chance Acord from the game with the Tigers leading 7-3.
Logan Smith's second home run of the game, and team-leading 19th of the season, helped push the lead to 8-3, and Drake Fittro hit his 17th home run, a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap the 10-5 win.
Acord allowed seven hits and two earned runs in four innings as he improved his record to 5-5. Peyton Gosch followed Acord on the mound and tossed three innings, allowing three hits and two runs.
Freshman pitcher Riley Lile finished with two scoreless innings of relief.
Cowley was out-hit 12-7 and was led at the plate by Smith, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored, and two runs scored.
The Conquistadors' Michael Bizier, the first of six pitchers used by Dodge City, took the loss after allowing six runs in two innings. Dodge City finishes with a record of 24-31.
Cowley defeated Hutchinson in both head-to-head meetings in the regular season. The Blue Dragons are ranked 22nd nationally and are 45-13.
The winner of Wednesday's game will play again on Thursday at 7 p.m., while the loser will play on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Score by inning: R H E
Dodge 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 – 5 12 1
Cowley 3 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 x – 10 7 1