by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC sports information
Kansas City Kansas Community College dealt No. 7-ranked Cowley College its first Jayhawk Conference defeat in 10 games Tuesday.
Limiting the Tigers to four hits, the Blue Devils took a 5-2 opening game win before dropping a 14-1 5-inning nightcap.
The two teams will complete their four-game series at KCKCC Tuesday, April 5. At Johnson County Thursday, the Blue Devils (4-2) next play host to the Cavaliers Saturday.
Lefthander Tre Simmons allowed four hits in six innings to run his record to 2-0. A freshman from Olathe West, Simmons struck out three and walked three. Sophomore Parker Weddle finished up, striking out two three hitters he faced.
Raymond Paniagua delivered the game’s biggest blow. Paniagua followed a one-out walk with a run-scoring triple and then scored on Caleb Adams’ ground ball for a 2-1 lead in the third. KCKCC broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth, scoring the go-ahead run on a double play after loading the bases without a hit and then added two insurance runs in the seventh, scoring both on wild pitches after a lead off singled by Camden Karlen.
Cowley (19-3) broke open the 11-1 nightcap by scoring seven runs on the second off starter Alan Mercado (0-2) and reliever Joseph Reyes.
KCKCC was limited to singles by Cole Dawson, Darius Freeman, Beau Grable and Paniagua. Cowley’s Racer Felter and Jerome Tylicki combined to strike out nine and walk two.