SALISBURY, N.C.-Barton's junior outfielder Ryan Daughtry (Princeton, N.C.) went 4-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Bulldogs over regionally ranked Catawba College 10-7 in baseball action on Wednesday afternoon at Newman Park.
The Bulldogs depart 4-8 overall after avenging a season-opening loss to the Indians. Catawba had a seven-game win streak snapped falling to 9-3. The 10 runs scored were the most scored by Barton this season.
After scoring run in the first on a sophomore Zac Crumpler (Wilson, N.C.) sacrifice fly, Barton put up a five spot in the second. Sophomore Phillip Williams (Gibson, N.C.) started things with a lead-off walk and came around to score on a double by senior Jordan Smith (Longmont, Colo.). After another walk and a hit-by-pitch, freshman David Gibbons (Wilson, N.C.) singled in another run for the Bulldogs. Daughtry then singled home two and Crumpler added a final RBI-single for a 6-0 lead.
In the fifth, Barton tacked on four more runs behind key singles by Smith and Gibbons, which drove in two, accounting for three of the four runs. A sac fly by Daughtry would bring home the final Barton run.
Catawba would final get on the board in the sixth after a Garrett Furr (Gold Hill, N.C.) sacrifice fly. Austin Moyer (Greensboro, N.C.) followed with a two-run homer to bring the score to 10-3. The Indians continued to rally in the eighth when Furr crossed the plate on a throwing error by the Bulldogs and Brett Underwood (Greensboro, N.C.) drew a bases-loaded walk.
The Indians made things interesting in the ninth, getting the winning run to the plate with two outs. A single and three walks cut the margin to 10-6 and Michael Whited (Greensboro, N.C.) added a two-out single to pull the Tribe within 10-7. Barton sophomore Mitchell Frazier (Oxford, N.C.) then struck out Underwood with bases loaded to end the game and pick up his first collegiate save.
Junior starter Bentley Massey (Wilson, N.C.) tossed the win for Barton. Massey (1-2) went five and two-third innings, allowing three runs off five hits with four strikeouts. Tribe starter Joe Kase (Palm Harbor, Fla.) received the loss. Kase went one and a third innings, allowing four runs on two hits with three walks.
Smith followed Daughtry with three hits and added two RBI, while sophomore Clay Martin (Pittsboro, N.C.) also collected three hits. Gibbons added a pair of hits and three RBI. A quartet of Bulldogs scored twice including freshmen Collins Cuthrell (Rocky Mount, N.C.) and Mitchell Wheeler (Elm City, N.C.).
Blake Houston (Mt. Ulla, N.C.) had two hits for Catawba.
Barton concluded a stretch of 12 consecutive games against preseason nationally ranked opposition and will begin Conference Carolinas play this weekend against Pfeiffer University. The Bulldogs entertain the Falcons at Nixon Field with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at Noon and Sunday in the series finale at 1 p.m.
