Losing control of their own destiny in the chase for a Kansas Jayhawk Conference title, the Neosho County Panthers were swept by the Cowley Tigers on Monday, 10-0, 9-6, at home.
“We knew going into those games that if we at least split, we’d have a great chance of being the No. 1 seed. We just didn’t come to play and Cowley played very well,” Neosho County interim head coach Mateighia Tanner said. “We’re just trying to hold the No. 2 seed now.”
Cowley run-ruled the Panthers in Game 1, scoring nine of its 10 runs in the third and fourth frames.
“We just came out slow and weren’t playing Neosho softball,” Tanner said. “The score was 1-0 and it felt like we were defeated. Then in the third, Cowley hit the ball well.”
Mikah Vann earned the winning decision for the Tigers, tossing five innings of one-hit ball in the circle in Game 1 — Neosho County’s lone hit came from Brinly Bancroft.
“We thought we had prepared enough, but we went in and we were chasing pitches,” Tanner said. “We weren’t ourselves. We were timid, nervous and scared. We weren’t changing our approach and it got away from us.”
In Game 2, the Panthers staked a 3-2 lead through two innings before Cowley posted five runs in the third inning.
“We just didn’t play well,” Tanner said. “Our offense wasn’t what it usually is and our pitching struggled. We didn’t have any errors. I just think it wasn’t our day in the field and Cowley ran away with it.”
Neosho County belted 10 hits, including two apiece from Brenli Solano, Kamri Naff, Annsleigh Morris and Bancroft. Naff ate the loss in the circle, allowing seven earned runs over three frames.
Cowley’s Raelynn Sandlin hit two home runs in Game 2 as part of a 5-RBI day.
After the two losses, Neosho County sits at 29-13 overall and 17-3 in KJCCC play. Cowley took sole possession of first place in the conference and improved its record to 36-12 overall and 18-2 in KJCCC action.
“We’re not hanging our heads. We’re moving on,” Tanner said. “Once we get to regionals, everybody is 0-0 again. They’ll bring their best and we’ll be ready. We tip our hats to Cowley. Now, we’ve got to move on and get two wins over Labette moving into regionals.”
Up next
Neosho County will face Labette in Parsons for both teams’ regular season finale. The series is scheduled for Friday but may be moved to Saturday due to weather and field conditions.
The Panthers can still earn a KJCCC title if Cowley suffers at least one loss to Cloud County in its finale.
“Ryan Phillips runs a great program and I’m never counting them out,” Tanner said. “They pull things out from their belts, so we can’t look ahead to regionals. We have to be ready for Labette. They have a great stick with their first baseman, so we have to keep her off the bases.”
