Sophomore pitcher Katie Cowan returned to the mound Tuesday night with the same intensity she exhibited last year.

Cowan struck out nine and gave up only two hits in the Lady Jackets 3-0 win over the Texarkana Texas High School Lady Tigers.

"I was a little nervous at first," Cowan said. "It got easier as the game went on. I got less nervous when we we went ahead."

Senior Amberly Waits, who went 2 for 3, led off the Lady Jackets first inning with a single to left field.

Lady Tigers pitcher Kelsey Harrington then struck out the next four batters. She ended the game with 11 strikeouts.

The Lady Jackets put the first run on the scoreboard when Cowan tripled to right field scoring Waits, who had singled with two outs.

Waits collided with the Lady Tiger first baseman after the single causing some concern in the crowd since she is recovering from knee surgery that sidelined her for the basketball season.

"My knee fells fine," Waits said. "My thigh hurts right now, but it's nothing serious."

The Lady Jackets put two more scores up when senior second baseman Sam Oleksak doubled to right field. Catcher Bailey Thigpen sacrificed bunted to more Olesak to third. Sophomore outfielder Skye Stamey singled in Oleksak. A pass ball by Harrington scored the third run.

"The girls stayed focused," head-coach Teri Rabe said. "They have high expectations for themselves."

Rabe said Cowan pitched exactly as she instructed her to do.

"When you are facing a good hitting team, you have to mix up the pitches," Rabe said. "Katie kept hitting her spots. That is all I could hope for."

The Lady Jackets play in the Ennis Tournament beginning Thursday. Rabe said she expects the team to do well.