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Cavaliers split with Cowley, remain in second place

Anthony Slaughter's bases loaded double in the 10th led to an 11-8 win
Anthony Slaughter's bases loaded double in the 10th led to an 11-8 win
Posted: Apr 30, 2019

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County Community College baseball team put themselves in a position to move into a tie for first place in the conference race by taking the first two games in the series with Cowley, but the Tigers forced a split winning game three and four at JCCC this weekend. With the split, the Cavaliers remain two games of Cowley with four conference games left to play in the regular season. 

In the opening game, a 7-3 win by the Cavaliers, sophomore outfielder Jacob Owens and freshman second baseman Mason Hartman each drove in two runs, and sophomore right-hander Zachary Ebert improved to 10-1 on the year with his eighth complete game of the season and 16th of his career. 

In the second game, Johnson County loaded the bases in the top of the 10th inning and freshman DH Anthony Slaughter belted a three-run double for an 11-8 lead. Cowley forced extra innings with a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game at 8-8. 

Freshman catcher Noah Cook was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. 

Freshman closer Paul Rector pitched a perfect 10th inning to earn his fifth save of the season. His five saves rank fourth in the conference. 

The third game was an amazing pitching duel between JCCC freshman right-hander Trey Ziegenbein and Cowley sophomore right-hander Brannon Jordan. Ziegenbein was solid, allowing just two runs off two hits with four strikeouts but Jordan held the Cavaliers to no hits and struck out seven to lead the Tigers. 

In the final game, Johnson County blew a four-run lead entering the top of the ninth inning when Cowley plated five runs to take an 8-7 lead and eventually the win. 

The Cavaliers were tailing 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore Blake Shannon put the Cavaliers on top 5-3 with a grand slam. Johnson County added two more in the eighth to increase their lead to four. 

Johnson County will close out the season with a four-game conference series with Coffeyville Community College. The first two games on Thursday, May 2 will be held in Coffeyville, Kan., with the final two at JCCC on Saturday, May 4.