The Cowboys won game one 7-6 as Tanner Hoekman hit a game-winning RBI in the bottom of the eighth.
Abilene lost game two giving up seven runs in the sixth inning, 10-4.
“With three doubleheaders to play this week we opted to watch pitch counts and throw a lot of guys today,” Cook said. “I was very proud of the effort we got from the pitching staff in this one. They threw strikes and our defense performed behind them.”
Nolan Berry started the game and threw three innings. Bryce Meuli came in for four innings and Dalton Millican pitched the last and got the win. Meuli gave up four of the six hits but he struck out three. Millican struck out two.
“I was probably more excited about the way our hitters stayed in the game against some top quality pitching,” Cook said. “Their pitchers are solid and we kept after them. Winning an extra innings game against a team like Council Grove is something to be excited about. Great team effort.”
Aside from the sixth inning, Abilene had a solid game against the Braves in game two. In that inning Abilene had four errors and allowed seven unearned runs.
“That’s your ballgame right there,” Cook said. “We are getting better in many aspects of the game and I don’t want to take away from the 14 good innings we played tonight but that inning cost us a sweep. Give credit to the pitcher from Council Grove as he fanned 13 of our hitters.
“Again we threw a lot of pitchers to preserve pitch counts and protect our arms for a heavy schedule late in the week,” he added. “Our pitchers did okay in general.”
Millican pitched the first two innings. Matt McClanahan threw two innings. Alex Friederich came in for two and took the loss. Hoekman cleaned up.
Abilene, 3-11, will play Beloit at home in a 4 p.m. start doubleheader on Thursday and then travel to Wamego on Friday.
Abilene 7, Council Grove 6
Abilene 1 0 1 1 0 0 3 1—7
Council Grove 0 2 0 1 2 0 1 0—6
Abilene: Grant Prichard 3-for-4, Chase Stalder 2-for-3, Tanner Hoekman 2-for-4, Chad Beetch 2-for-3. Nolan Berry, Kane Kelly, Matt McClanahan all had 1 hit.
Council Grove 10, Abilene 4
Abilene 3 0 0 0 1 0 0—4
Council Grove 1 0 1 0 1 7 0—10
Abilene: Nolan Berry 3-for-4, Grant Prichard 2-for-4, Kane Kelly 2-for-4. Alex Friederich, Matt McClanahan, Tanner Hoekman all had 1 hit.