HIGHLAND, Kan. - After battling back from a slight knock earlier in the season,
Gavin Stowell delivered an outstanding start for Highland Community College (7-40, 3-21 KJCCC) but the Scotties couldn't post a second comeback in game one, dropping both contests to no. 3 Cowley College (35-8, 24-4 KJCCC) on Saturday.
Cowley was able to push across one run in the top of the first and threatened a second before a sharp double play by the Scotties ended the threat.
Nolan Wall was able to make a great grab on a line drive by Dawson Williams and fire across the diamond to
Brett Burks.
The Tigers added three in the top of the second inning, but Wall ignited a Highland comeback in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff single. After taking advantage of a balk to move to second, Wall scored on a
Parker Hansen single. Burks sent a fly to the deepest part of center field, but instead of clearing the fence the ball found a small gap in the chainlink for a ground-rule double. A second one-out single - this time from
Grayson Wroten - scored Hansen. A missed pickoff attempt scored Burks and moved Wroten to second.
After a single and a stolen base by
Isaiah White put two more runners in scoring position for Highland,
Dylan Zimmerman laced a sac fly to center and
Solomon Holmes drove a single up the third-base side to give Highland a 5-4 lead.
Stowell settled in as HCC retired Cowley in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, striking out three along the way. White sent a two-out double down the third-base line in the bottom of the sixth trying to extend the one-run lead, but the Scotties couldn't push White across.
After forcing a flyout to right field to open the top of the seventh, Stowell gave way to
Kaleb Wellshear, but Cowley managed to score a pair of runs and take a 6-5 lead. The Tigers also made a call to the bullpen, and their reliever was able to retire Highland in order.
Cowley got on the board early in the second game and Highland struggled, putting runners in scoring position in just the fifth and sixth innings before dropping game two 17-0.
Highland returns to the friendly confines of Highland Community Ballpark on Tuesday with a single nine-inning game against State Fair Community College. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
