Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
by Kevin Buczek
ASHEBORO, N.C.-The Barton College baseball team wrapped up play at McCrary Park with a 4-2 non-conference victory over Pfeiffer University late Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the day, sixth-ranked Catawba College broke a late tie to defeat the Bulldogs 9-7.
Barton (2-3 Overall) played five consecutive games at the home stadium of the Asheboro Copperheads of the Coastal Plain League (CPL) to begin its season. The Bulldogs next entertains Shippensburg University in a three-game series next week. Saturday's home opening doubleheader that starts at Noon will be designated Breast Cancer Awareness Day for BC and the Bulldogs will be wearing pink gear in support (more information on the event will be published on BartonBulldogs.com this week). The two teams will wrap-up the set with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Senior Phillip Williams, sophomore Avery Harper and freshman Ben Williams all had three hits on the day for the Royal Blue and White. Harper paced the Bulldogs with three RBI and a stolen base while both Williams scored twice.
GAME ONE: No. 6 Catawba 9, Barton 7
The defending Southeast Region champion Indians plated a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to break a 7-7 tie and a pair of relievers closed the door on the victory as Catawba remained undefeated on the season at 7-0.
The designated visitors jumped out to a 6-0 lead with three runs in both the first and third. Chris Dula was a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBI, two walks and two runs scored and highlighted the Indians early scoring with a two-run homer in the third.
Sophomore JT Bunce started Barton's comeback with his own two-run shot in the bottom half of the third. Bunce's long ball to center field was his first collegiate home run.
The Bulldogs added three more runs in the fourth to cut the deficit to 7-5. Harper had an RBI-single down the left field line and freshman Seth Breasseale finished the scoring with a two-run double in the right field gap. Breasseale and Ben Williams both collected their first collegiate base hits in the frame.
A two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh knotted the scoreboard at 7-all. Sophomore Spiers Miller and junior Dillon Rudio started the threat with consecutive singles. Phillip Williams then knocked in Miller with BC's third straight single. A throwing error by the pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt allowed Rudio to trot home for the game-tying run.
With Phillip Williams sitting at third base as the potential go-ahead run, Catawba starter Ross Whitley got out of the jam with his 10th strikeout. Pinch hitters Keaton Hawks and Mario Parisi knocked in a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to regain the lead for the Tribe that allowed Whitley (1-0) to get the win after going seven innings.
Ryan McClintock tossed a scoreless eight and closer Craig Brooks retired the Bulldogs in order in the ninth to earn his third save of the season. Julio Zubillaga continued his strong play to start the season with two doubles and his team-leading 10th RBI.
Both teams collected 10 hits. Eight different Bulldogs hit safely including a pair of base knocks by both Rudio and Ben Williams.
Sophomore Brandon Warren only allowed two runs on three hits in 5 1/3 innings of relief work to help Barton rally but he was tagged with the loss despite a career-high nine K's. Phillip Williams made his first start of the season in the no decision.
GAME TWO: Barton 4, Pfeiffer 2
Senior starter Kyle Norville picked up his first win of the season and sophomore Duncan Everett threw 3 1/3 innings of effective relief for his first collegiate save as the duo stymied Pfeiffer (0-6) to just two runs.
The two Conference Carolinas rivals were playing the game as a non-conference clash so the Bulldogs victory does not give them a league win. Barton begins conference play at Coker in two weeks.
An RBI-double by Aarin Sharpe in the bottom of the second staked the Falcons to an early lead but Harper and Phillip Williams sparked the Bulldogs rally. Harper drove in Phillip Williams with a single to left in the fourth to tie the score at 1-1.
Barton scored its final three runs in the sixth. Phillip Williams started the surge with a leadoff single and later touched home plate when Harper went the other way with a single down the right-field line. After Ben Williams scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a passed ball, junior Phillip Cotten capped the rally with an insurance run with a double to left.
Phillip Williams and Harper both went 2-for-4 to account for four of the Bulldogs seven hits.
Norville (1-0) gave up just one run on four hits over 5 2/3 and now has a 1.74 ERA in his first two starts. Everett (3) kept the Falcons to one more run over the final 3 1/3 in his team-leading third appearance. Norville and Everett each fanned four Falcons.
Pfeiffer matched BC with seven hits but no Falcon had more than one hit. Matt Wade led off the eighth with a double and later scored on a double play for the designated hosts' final run.
