Getting into the bracket play of the district/region tournament for the first time since 2017 the Dodge City baseball team would open action in Wichita against Cowley on Wednesday and would put up a strong fight against #19 Tigers but fell 8-5.
The loss moves the Conquistadors to 38-22 on the season and pushes them into the elimination bracket portion of the NJCAA Plains District/Region 6 Championships where they will continue action against Hutchinson on Thursday, May 16th at 10:00 am. Hutchinson lost their first game 5-3 versus Barton.
After an uneventful first inning for both teams, each team would generate a scoring opportunity in the second. The Conqs opened the top of the second with a leadoff double by Carter Olson but he would ultimately be thrown out at home to end the frame, while Cowley worked the bases loaded in the bottom of the second but Garret Carter would induce an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play. The bottom of the third would see the first run of the game as Cowley belted a solo home run to take a 1-0 lead but would also leave the bases loaded. In the top of the fourth, the Conqs evened up the contest with an RBI double by Nick Gray, and then behind strong pitching inning from Carter in the bottom of the fourth kept the game tied 1-1 headed into the fifth. In the top of the fifth, the Conqs looked to take advantage of a double off the wall by Peter Tassler but he would be thrown out at home plate later in the inning to end the frame.
In the top of the sixth, the Conqs grabbed the lead as Gray blasted a three-run home run to make it 4-1. The bottom of the sixth saw Cowley regain the lead working the bases loaded and behind some walks would score three runs to take a 5-4 lead. In the top of the eighth, the Conqs continued to grind as Max Towchik brought in Gray with an RBI double to tie the game at 5-5. The bottom of the eight would see Cowley snatch the lead back scoring three runs and the Conqs would be unable to get things going and would fall 8-5.
Gray would pace an 11-hit attack for the Conqs offense going 3-3 with four RBI, a home run, a double, and two runs scored. Tassler added a 2-4 day with a double and a walk, while both Olson and Towchik each had doubles.
Carter started on the mound tossing 5.2 innings surrendering five runs on six hits and six walks with four strikeouts. While Michael Lopez and Luis Santiago each also saw action for the Conqs.
Conqs look to stay alive in the postseason as they will face off with Hutchinson in an elimination game on Thursday, May 16th at 10:00 am in Wichita at Eck stadium.
