Cowley softball opens conference play with wins over Fort Scott

Opening conference play vs. Fort Scott on Thursday in Arkansas City, the Cowley College softball team run-ruled the Greyhounds 9-1 in game one before holding on to win the nightcap by a score of 8-7.

The Lady Tigers, winners of four games in a row, are now 20-8 overall and 2-0 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Fort Scott, losers of six games in a row, falls to 6-12 and 0-2 in the conference.

In game one, Cowley got a strong start on the mound from Ezra Arredondo (7-2) as the sophomore struck out seven and allowed only one run in six innings pitched.

Leading 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Tigers erupted for six runs and run-ruled the Greyhounds on Alissa Nuno's three-run homer. Nuno finished 3-for-3 with three runs batted in.

Jamie Molina added her third home run of the season earlier in the contest, and six of Cowley's 11 hits went for extra bases.

"Offensively, game one, we hit a lot of competitive hard shots," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. "We had a big performance from Ali Nuno down in the 9 spot."

Trailing 3-0 early in game two, Cowley scored eight unanswered runs to lead 8-3 entering the final inning.

However, aided by a pair of home runs in the top of the seventh inning, Fort Scott pulled within 8-6. After a two-out RBI double cut Cowley's lead to 8-7, Lady Tiger starting pitcher Mikah Vann got Kara Speere to ground out to shortstop to end the game.

Fort Scott hit four home runs in the loss but committed two errors while the Tigers played mistake-free ball.

"We had a strong game defensively," Hoyt said. "I really felt like that was a tone-setter for us."

Cowley freshman Taverli Tennant hit her eighth home run of the season, and sophomore centerfielder Bre Curry had two of Cowley's seven hits.

Vann (11-3) struck out eight while earning the win despite allowing all seven runs.

Fort Scott's Brylen Bartley struck out seven and did not walk a batter but allowed seven hits and six earned runs in six innings pitched.

Cowley will play a doubleheader at Labette on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Cardinals are 5-15 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

Score by inning:

Game one                  R H E

Ft. Scott 0 0 1 0 0 0 – 1 3 2

Cowley   1 2 0 0 0 6 – 9 11 1

Game two                      R H E

Ft. Scott 0 2 1 0 0 0 4 – 7 7 2

Cowley   0 0 3 0 3 2 x – 8 5 0