Panthers bounce back to win game two against Cowley ANDREW TOWNE Sports editor The Neosho County Community College baseball team bounced back after a
12-2 loss in game one, to take game 2 of the doubleheader 11-8 against the Cowley College Tigers on Thursday afternoon at Hudson Field.
Game one was dominated by Cowley pitching. Tiger starter Ben Strahm and reliever Mark Hartley combined to pitch a four-hit contest.
The only offense by the Panthers came in the bottom of the fourth.
Already trailing 8-0, sophomore catcher Cooper Minnick homered driving in the only two runs of the game.
For Cowley, they jumped-started the offense with five runs in the first with four of those runs coming prior to the Panthers recording an out.
The visiting Tigers added two runs in the second, fifth and seventh innings en route to the 10-run victory.
In game two, Cowley looked to pick up right where it left off, grabbing a 4-0 advantage after an inning and a half of play.
Sophomore outfielder Nate Crossman drove in Neosho County's first run of the game.
 From that point forward, the Panther bats knocked around Cowley pitching in the 11-8 victory.
Freshman outfielder Nolan Beets connected on a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot in the bottom of the third and a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth to bring the Panthers back within one run.
In the fifth, a wild pitch tied the game and sophomore outfielder Aaron Dees gave the Panthers their first lead of the day with an RBI single.
Neosho County added to its lead in the bottom of the seventh, scoring on a passed ball and a second home run by Minnick.
However, Cowley wasn't done. The Tigers loaded up the bases with two out in the top of the ninth, but relief pitcher Alex DuBord got Cowley to fly out to secure the split.
Crossman led the Panthers in game two with a 3-for-4 day, driving in one run and scoring three times, while Dees, Beets and freshman third baseman Marcus McDaniel collected two hits apiece. Beats tallied six RBIs behind the two home runs.
The Panthers (14-8 overall and 4-6 in the KJCCC) travels to Ark City to face Cowley on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 1 pm.