OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 7-ranked Johnson County baseball suffered its first loss in conference play falling 8-6 in the first of four games against No. 9 Cowley but rebounded with a 1-0 victory to earn a split.  The two top-ranked teams will return the diamond on Saturday in Arkansas City to close out the series.

In the opener, sophomore catcher Miken Miller got the Cavaliers on the board early driving in two runs with a single in the bottom of the first innings.  He added another RBI later in the game.

Cowley too the lead for good in the top of the third with three runs. The Tigers added two more in the fifth and three in the sixth.

Sophomore outfielder Bo Shinkle, the reigning KJCCC East Player of the Week, went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

In the second game, sophomore right-hander Sam Novotny and freshman right-hander Christian Bobzin combined to shutout and shut down the Cowley hitters. Novotny hurled the first four innings giving up four hits, no runs with four strikeouts to pick up the victory. Bobzin pitched five innings in relief giving up three hits, no runs with three strikeouts.

Freshman outfielder Ashton Hartwig drove freshman shortstop Chris Mancinas in the second inning for JCCC's lone run.