Concordia, KS- The Cloud County baseball team dropped four games to the Cougars of Barton County over the weekend. It was the first series of Jayhawk Conference play. 

Cloud got a strong start from sophomore John Badgett in game one. Badgett allowed just one hit into the 6th inning and the T-Birds had a 4-0 lead. Badgett struggled with his command in the 6th though as he allowed the first three Cougar hitters to reach base by walk or hit by pitch. He then allowed a single to Dayton Pomeroy to plate two Cougars and cut the lead to 4-2. Head Coach Greg Brummett went to the bullpen and Cole Otto came in and allowed a third run to score on a sac fly but struck out two to escape the inning with a 4-3 lead.

Otto went back out in the 7th and surrendered four runs to the Cougars. Cloud County went down in order in the 7th and lost 7-4.

Jake Wells had two hits in the loss.

Freshman John Stiger was solid through four innings for Cloud in game two. Six straight Barton hitters reached base to start the 5th inning as a part of a six run outburst to help Barton pull away and win 10-1. Stiger took the loss.  Brandon Mitchell threw 3 1/3 innings of solid relief, striking out 5.

Barton used a ten run fourth inning to win game three 15-4. Cloud County starter Alex Torkelson has been solid early in games. He quickly retired the first seven batters before the wheels fell off and Torkelson was chased from the game.

Cloud committed four errors in the game. Torkelson took the loss.

The T-Birds held a 4-3 lead into the 7th of game four before Barton erupted for nine runs in the 7th. The Cougars sent 12 players to the plate and capped the inning with a three run shot from Pomeroy. Pomeroy would homer again in the 9th. Barton went on to win game four 15-7.

Jared Winter took the loss in relief of starter Nick Wordekemper. Wordekemper was solid allowing 3 earned runs in 5 innings of work.

Alixon Herrera had six hits on the weekend and is now hitting .370 on the year.  

Things don't get any easier for Cloud as they will now travel to Dodge City for a matchup with the Conquistadors. Dodge is coming off of a run to the NJCAA World Series a year ago.