’Hound softball in midst of tough stretch

Fort Scott Community College’s softball season is in a stretch of tough games as the regular season comes to a close.

Monday, the Greyhounds took on then-No. 5 ranked Cowley at home, only to be swept by the division-leading Tigers in Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division play.

Tuesday, Fort Scott traveled to take on No. 7 Highland and won the opener before dropping the nightcap.

Tuesday, the ’Hounds will conclude regular-season play with home games against Cottey, which was ranked No. 18 in the NJCAA Division II poll last week before dropping out this week.

Monday: Cowley 7-8, Fort Scott 1-0.

The now-No. 8 Tigers hit two home runs in game one and three on the day. Pitcher Ashton Friend held the Greyhounds hitless in game two.

Aimee Wimp had 2 hits in game one and was the Greyhounds’ only baserunner in game two, getting on board with a walk.

Tuesday: Fort Scott 8-0, Highland 7-9.

The Greyhounds led 3-0 after one inning of the opener. The Scotties hit solo homers in each of the next two innings on their way to tying the score after three.

Allie Rooks’ 3-run home run in the top of the sixth gave the Greyhounds the lead again. Highland got two more homers in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, 7-6.

Wimp singled leading off the top of the seventh. Shelby Choate followed with a double. Following a pitching change, Wimp scored on a passed ball and Choate scored the winning run on a bunt single by Taylor Krokroskia.

Wimp and Choate were each 2 for 4 for the Greyhounds. Rooks drove in 4 runs.

A pair of second-inning homers helped the Scotties built an 8-0 lead after two innings of game two. The game ended after five innings.

Fort Scott stands at 9-13 in conference play, 11-13 in Region VI and 26-19 overall. Cowley, which also swept Hutchinson Tuesday, improved to 18-2, 19-3 and 31-12. Highland is 17-5 in the division and the region and 26-7 overall.

Tuesday’s home finale will get underway at 2 p.m. at the Betty Ruth Willard Complex.

Monday’s games

Game One

Cowley...... 220 110 1 — 7 11 2

Fort Scott. 100 000 0 — 1 7 1

WP — Wenzel (14-5). LP — Cox (12-9).

HR — Cowley: Nitch (8, 1st inn., 1 on, 1 out), Webb (7, 4th inn. none on, 1 out).

Game Two

Cowley...... 022 04x x — 8 11 0

Fort Scott. 000 00x x — 0 0 2

WP — Friend (10-4). LP — Hutsell (13-8).

HR — Cowley: Webb (8, 2nd inn., 1 on, 2 out).

Tuesday’s games

Game One

Fort Scott. 300 003 2 — 8 10 0

Highland.. 111 004 0 — 7 10 2

WP — Cox (13-9). LP — Donaldson (1-2).

HR — Fort Scott: Rooks (1, 6th inn, 2 on, none out). Highland: Moran (4, 1st inn, none on, none out), Hoddapp (7, 2nd inn, none on, none out), Anderson (6, 6th inn, none on, none out), Donaldson (1, 6th inn., 2 on, 1 out).

Game Two

Fort Scott.. 000 00x x — 0 2 1

Highland.. 440 1xx x — 9 10 0

WP — Hamm (14-0). LP — Hutsell (13-9).

HR — Highland: Hernandez (12, 2nd inn., 1 on, 2 out), Shinn (3, 2nd inn., none on, 2 out).