DUE WEST, S.C.-Senior right-hander Hunter Meekins and sophomore lefty Kyle Norville pitched complete games on Saturday as Barton College swept a Conference Carolinas baseball doubleheader from host Erskine.
Barton, now 9-15 overall and 2-5 in the league, rode a nine-inning, nine-hitter from Meekins to a 6-4 win in Saturday's first game and got a seven-inning, five-hit outing from Norville as they won the series finale 6-2. Erskine (17-7, 3-6) had won the opening game of the three-game set on Friday.
Jordan Smith and Aaron Watkins did the major damage at the dish for the Bulldogs in Saturday's opener. Smith batted 4-for-5 with a triple and double and Watkins was a stellar 4-of-4 with a double and two RBI. Matt Willis also doubled twice.
Erskine took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Barton took control with two runs in the second on singles by Watkins and Collins Cuthrell, a passed ball and a two-run triple by J.D. McCarty. Smith tripled in the third and scored on a single by Zac Crumpler for a 3-1 lead.
The Bulldogs added two runs in the sixth. Crumpler was hit by a pitch, Willis doubled and Watkins followed with a two-run double. Erskine got a homer from Brian Laznik in the sixth to pull within 5-2, but Barton added a run in the eighth on a Willis double, a Watkins single and a sacrifice fly from Cuthrell.
Chase Corn launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to account for all the scoring.
Barton outhit the Flying Fleet 13-9. Laznik, Zach Smith and John Bolding rapped two hits apiece for Erskine and starter Zach McAllister (2-1) was the losing pitcher. Meekins (1-4) walked three and fanned four for the Bulldogs.
In the second game, Barton never trailed again, getting two runs in the first inning on a double by Ryan Daughtry, a hit batter, an RBI groundout from Crumpler and a run-scoring single by Willis. Erskine notched a run in the fourth on a double by Bolding, a balk and a sacrifice fly by Drew Willingham.
Barton took command with a three-run fifth. Smith singled, Crumpler was hit by a pitch and Willis, Watkins and McCarty singled home runs. The Bulldogs made it 6-1 in the sixth on a Daughtry double, an error and a sacrifice fly from Smith. An RBI double from Bolding in the bottom of the sixth accounted for the final score.
The crafty Norville (3-2) was in charge throughout, mixing his speeds and pitches to scatter five hits. He walked none and struck out three. Willis, Watkins and Daughtry delivered two hits apiece as Barton had an 11-5 advantage in hits.
Huitt Scarborough (1-1) started and took the loss in four innings on the mound. He allowed five runs on seven hits, walked one and hit two batters.
Barton resumes play on Saturday and Sunday when Coker College visits for a league series. First pitch of the Saturday doubleheader is slated for noon.
