Morris and Carpenter help lift Lady Tigers to a sweep of KCK

Cowley, winners of 11 of its past 12 games, improves to 26-20 overall and 12-4 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. KCK (32-18) falls into a tie for third place in the conference with Allen at 10-6.

"We did a great job of playing solid games of softball," Cowley head coach Jenny Hoyt said. "Our defense really stepped up behind Dacey (Morris) and Hannah (Howard) in both games, and we got huge at-bats throughout the doubleheader. We worked really well as a team, so it made the wins feel a little sweeter."

In game one, Cowley scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and cruised to the 4-0 win behind Morris, who tossed a complete-game four-hit shutout, while striking out four and walking none.

Kiki Warner had two of Cowley's seven hits in the win, and Carpenter reached double figures with her 10^th home run of the season.

The Blue Devils' Rebecca Castillo took the loss after allowing six hits and four runs in six innings.

Morris came back on to pitch the final two innings of game two in relief of Hannah Howard, who left with Cowley trailing 5-2 when the game was halted due to a lightning delay in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The lightning delay seemed to wake up the Tigers as they scored four runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to lead 8-5.

"I really felt like our focus and attention coming back into that inning after the weather delay was a lot sharper," Hoyt said. "We came back fired up and ready to go, and it was good to see our players battle back."

KCK would load the bases in the top of the seventh inning, but Morris would strand them loaded as she improved her record to 15-8.

The Tigers hit three home runs in game two and were led by Kiki Warner, who went 2-for-2 with a home run and two runs batted in. Carpenter added her 11^th homer, and sophomore shortstop Taverli Tennant added her team-leading 15^th home run of the season.

Gabby Pemberton (7-5), the second of three pitchers used by the Blue Devils, took the loss.

Hoyt credited freshman Taylor Clay with helping Cowley rally in game two. Clay went 1-for-3 with two runs batted in during the win of the nightcap and is now batting .414 on the season.

"Taylor is definitely our spark to the lineup," Hoyt said. "She is a tough out, and if we get her on base, we seem to rally through the lineup."

Cowley will remain home to face Neosho County in a doubleheader on Tuesday at 2 p.m. The Panthers are 17-23 overall and 8-8 in the conference, while the Lady Tigers are an impressive 15-5 at home.

Score by inning:

Game one                    R H E

KCK     0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 4 2

Cowley 3 0 1 0 0 0 x – 4 7 1

Game two                    R H E

KCK    1 1 1 2 0 0 0 – 5 9 1

Cowley 0 2 0 0 4 2 x – 8 9 2