Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Junior Kyle Norville tossed a complete-game shutout in the night cap to help Barton College earn a split of its season-opening doubleheader against perennial power Kutztown University on Friday evening at historic Fleming Stadium. KU won the first game 7-3 and BC won the second game 6-0.
Barton first year head coach Josh Simmons' first career win capped an amazing day for the Simmons household. Coach Simmons wife Ericka gave birth to their first son, Colton James, at 10:57 a.m. this morning weighing in at seven pounds and one ounce.
"What a wild day it has been," said Simmons. "I was not very happy with our approach to the first game, however I was pleased how we responded to the challenge in game two. Kyle [Norville] pitched a great game and defensively we made a few plays. [Bentley] Massey gave us a chance in game one but we made too many mistakes and didn't capitalize on our opportunities offensively."
The Bulldogs (1-1) and the Golden Bears (1-1) will conclude the four-game series with a twin bill at Nixon Field on Saturday at Noon. Prior to the game, the Barton baseball program will honor Todd Wilkinson for his 19 years as head coach before retiring to administration at the end of the 2011 season.
Senior shortstop Chris Rawlings, senior right fielder Ryan Daughtry and junior centerfielder Tyler Barrington all went 3-for-7 for the Bulldogs including one RBI apiece.
GAME ONE: Kutztown 7, Barton 3
Barton held a 2-1 lead midway through the opener but a two-run homer by reigning PSAC Player of the Year and preseason All-American Shayne Houck put Kutztown ahead in the fifth and the visitors pulled away with four insurance runs in the seventh and final frame.
The Bears picked up an unearned run in the top of the second before the Bulldogs raced ahead on a two-run blooper by freshman designated hitter Tyler George that landed just inside the right-field line. Juniors Zac Crumpler and Clay Martin started the rally with back-to-back doubles before George recorded his first collegiate hit in his first career at bat.
Barton senior starter Bentley Massey gave up a leadoff hit to Cody Montz to start the game but then did not give up another hit over the next 4 2/3 innings until Houck connected on a 0-2 offering by Massey over the leftfield fence. Massey went six quality innings allowing two earned runs on two hits and four walks over six complete innings. Massey did strikeout seven Bears.
Senior Dominick Ruscitti picked up the win for Kutztown going the first 4 2/3 and sophomore Jason Henderson tallied the final five outs for the save. Montz had two of the Bears three total hits.
Barrington, a transfer from the College of Albemarle, was the only Bulldog with multiple hits with a pair of singles including an RBI base knock in the seventh inning to account for BC's last run.
GAME TWO: Barton 6, Kutztown 0
Norville notched Barton's first shutout since the 2010 season with an 86-pitch masterpiece. Norville – a 6-foot-4 lefthander that keeps batters guessing with changes of speed and location – only faced two batters over the minimum and allowed just two hits and one walk over seven strong innings.
All four of Norville's strikeouts came consecutively as he ended his most pressure packed frame in the second with a called third strike before he retired the Golden Bears in order in the third with trio of swinging K's.
Kutztown picked up its only two hits to start of the second on successive shallow singles but Norville wiggled out of jam with a fielder's choice, a fly ball and a strikeout.
Sophomore third baseman Mitchell Wheeler ripped a two-run single to the left field gap in the bottom of the first to put Barton ahead to stay. Repeated RBI-singles by Rawlings and Daughtry doubled up the Bulldogs lead to 4-0 in the fifth. Junior first baseman Phillip Williams drilled a run-producing triple in the sixth and late scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Alex Weaver to complete the hosts scoring.
