Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Cowling Finishes Junior Year At SAU With Success

Prescott's Ross Cowling finished his junior year at Southern Arkansas University with an impressive record on the mound.

The southpaw hurler went 6-1 on the year, tying him for second on the team for wins this season.

He had 10 starts, putting him third in this category, and pitched two complete games, tying him for second on the squad.

Cowling spent 66 2/3 innings on the mount, the third most on the team, gave up 78 hits, the fewest by all of the Mulerider starters, and had 46 runs score, again, the fewest on the team.

The former Curley Wolf surrendered 37 earned runs, once again the least earned runs allowed by an SAU pitcher, and had a 5.00 ERA, putting him second on the team.

Cowling finished second in two other categories, walks, giving up 31, and strikeouts, where he fanned 47 opposing batters.

The Muleriders finished their year 25-15, second in the Gulf South Conference's Western Division for the regular season.

SAU went to the conference tournament at Cleveland, Miss. on the campus of Delta State University, the regular season champs.

The Muleriders lost their first game in the double elimination event, but Cowling pitched the team to a 4-3 win in the second round.

SAU posted the win over Alabama-Huntsville, a team with a 42-15 record.

In the game Cowling went seven innings, gave up three runs on five hits, with two of the runs earned. He walked three and fanned five.

During his time at Prescott High School Cowling was one of the most dominant pitchers in the state.

He was named All-District and All-State as a senior in 1997.

Cowling played in the Arkansas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star game in Fayetteville, where he was named the Most Valuable Player.

He was Prescott's first player to ever be named both All-State and All-Star.

During his senior career Cowling led Prescott to a 12-6 overall record, with the Wolves finishing second in the District 7AA tourney. The Wolves also went to the semifinals in the Class AA State Tournament.

Prescott was eliminated by Truman 11-7, though the Wolves led 7-6 going into the top of the seventh inning.

As a senior Cowling was 9-2 on the year, pitching 71 innings, fanning 119, walking 62, allowing 52 hits and 45 runs.

He also hit .296 in the tourney with three doubles, nine walks and scored seven runs. Cowling had a .431 on-base percentage.

Cowling pitched the Wolves past Central Arkansas Christian in the tourney's opening game, 3-2.

The losing pitcher, Chris Pozza, is now his teammate at SAU.