by Kevin Buczek
GREENEVILLE, Tenn.-The Barton College baseball team rallied from an early three run deficit and sophomore relievers Dylan Newton and Jimmie Davis held host and No. 3 Tusculum College to just one run and two hits over the final six innings in a 7-4 upset victory Wednesday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
The Pioneers – ranked No. 3 nationally by both the ABCA and NCBWA – won the first two games of the series 9-7 and 5-1 on Tuesday but were unable to complete the sweep. Tusculum had a 10 game home win streak snapped but still boast a 36-7 overall record.
The most impressive win of the season sends the Bulldogs back to Wilson at 14-27. Barton next prepares for an important Conference Carolinas series at Belmont Abbey College on Friday and Saturday. The Bulldogs will need use the momentum from Wednesday's big win and try to sweep the Crusaders, who are ranked No. 9 in the Southeast Region by the NCBWA, in an attempt to still make the league tournament.
Tusculum jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a pair of home runs off BC junior starter Kyle Norville, who then settled down and tossed scoreless frames in the second and third.
Senior Ryan Daughtry reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on a single to right by junior Zac Crumpler to put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard in the fourth.
Newton took over on the mound in the bottom of the fourth and the 6-foot-2 righty kept the Pioneers scoreless over the course of the next three innings allowing Barton to rally in front.
The Bulldogs raced ahead in the sixth with three runs that was highlighted by an RBI-double by Williams.
Three of BC's final four runs were unearned because of three Tusculum errors. Daughtry drove in the Bulldogs final run in the ninth with a sacrifice fly. Senior Chris Rawlings was 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Williams was 2-for-5 and Barton's only extra base hit.
Newton evened his record to 3-3 with his three scoreless innings. Davis hurled the final three frames and only allowed a solo home run down the left field line to pick up his collegiate save.
Tusculum was held to just three hits over the last eight innings as Barton outhit the hosts 9-6.
TUESDAY
Barton led 6-0 in the series opener on Tuesday but Tusculum scored nine of the last 10 runs to earn the 9-7 win. Daughtry paced the Bulldogs going 4-for-5 with two RBI and two doubles. Williams and freshman Avery Harper each added two base knocks including a double apiece.
Williams, Harper, junior Tyler Barrington, sophomore Collins Cuthrell and freshman Spiers Miller all drove in one Bulldog.
BC outhit Tusculum 7-5 in Tuesday's nightcap but six walks helped the Pioneers capture the 5-1 victory. Daughtry drove in the Bulldogs only run with a single in the first that plated Cuthrell. Daughtry and Cuthrell were both 2-for-3.
