Big innings spelled big trouble for Allen Community College Thursday. GAME 2 began with two errors and three hits in the top of the second inning, bringing Cowley to a 4-0 lead, more than enough for starter Parker Rigler, who pitched 4 2/3 hitless innings to start the game. He walked three and struck out four.
Visitors from Cowley County broke open a pitchers duel with three runs in both the third and fourth innings of the first game of a doubleheader, winning 7-1.
The visiting Tigers then erupted for four runs in the top of the second inning in the nightcap, and never looked back in an 8-1 victory.
The sweep marks the first two games of a four-game series between the two squads. Allen heads to Arkansas City Sunday for the final two games. The doubleheader was pushed back a day from this afternoon due to inclement weather forecasts.
Allen’s John Prochaska held Cowley in check until a two-out double in the top of the third gave the Tigers their first run. A leadoff home run by Cowley’s Kris Molter in the top of the second led to a three-run rally and a 4-0 lead.
Three more in the top of the fifth was all Cowley needed behind starter Seth Holman, who wiggled out of trouble the first two innings to stymie the Red Devil offense.
Allen’s Levi Ashmore led off the bottom of the first with a double. He advanced to third, but was stranded.
Likewise, Trey Francis doubled in the bottom of the second, but was left on base when Clint Heffern’s line drive was snared by the Cowley right fielder.
Holman held Allen to two hits in six innings. He struck out five.
Allen scored its run in the bottom of the seventh when Drew Walden smacked an RBI single to drive in Trevor Kreifel, who had doubled.
Prochaska surrendered five hits in four innings with two walks and two strikeouts. Zachary Maskill gave up three hits and a walk in his inning of relief. Logan Bausch pitched two scoreless innings, surrendering two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Allen’s lone run came in the bottom of the sixth when Chase Egleston drove in Kreifel with an RBI single. Kreifel had Allen’s only other hit.
Keil Stauffer was Allen’s tough-luck loser. He gave up six hits and three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. He walked five and struck out three. Chris McPherson allowed two hits of 2 2/3 innings of relief, with two walks and three strikeouts. Taylor Mah pitched a hitless, scoreless inning with a strikeout.
The second game went nine innings.
The losses drop Allen’s record to 5-8 on the season. Cowley improves to 10-3.
Cowley takes twinbill from Red Devils
