Eagles trip Northeast in regional opener
The Eagles got a strong pitching effort from Cameron Cowan and trimmed Northeast Community College, 5-3, at Ashford Field.
Kirkwood (32-18) will face 19th-ranked DMACC (37-15) in the winner's bracket semifinals Friday at noon.
Cowan (3-2) was touched for three runs in seven innings, but all three runs were unearned. He allowed five hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Austin Krob pitched 1 2/3 scoreless inning in relief and Jackson Bennett got the final out for his fifth save.
Levi Usher and Zion Pettigrew had two hits for Kirkwood. Taylor Jackson, Jamarion Loston and Joel Thompson collected RBIs.
Northeast scored three times in the bottom of the third inning for a 3-1 lead. Kirkwood pulled within 3-2 in the top of the fourth and grabbed a 5-3 advantage in the fifth with three more runs, knocking Northeast ace Cam Taylor (7-2) out of the game.
Southeastern (39-17) will face Iowa Central (33-18) in the other winner's bracket semifinal Friday in the double-elimination tournament.
Northeast won the season series, 3-1, against Kirkwood this year.
Kirkwood 010 130 000 - 5 9 3
Northeast 003 000 000 - 3 6 2
Cowan, Krob (8), Bennett (9) and Thompson. Taylor, Rodriguez (5), Potter (7) and Weber. W - Cowan (3-2). L - Taylor (7-2). S - Bennett (5). 2B - Pettigrew, Vaske, Thompson. RBI - Jackson, Loston, Thompson. SAC - Brister. SF - Jackson. SB - Usher.
