Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
by Kevin Buczek
RALEIGH, N.C.-After Fairmont State University rallied for a 5-2 win over Barton College, the Lady Bulldogs knocked off Mansfield University 6-2 to split the squads first two games in the Shaw University Challenge at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex on Friday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs (1-5 overall) are scheduled to play Seton Hill University (2 p.m.) and Glenville State University (4 p.m.) on Saturday and Concord University (11 a.m.) and East Stroudsburg University (1 p.m.) on Sunday to conclude play in the Shaw Challenge. Potential inclement weather may alter the schedule over the weekend and fans are encouraged to check for updates on BartonBulldogs.com.
Senior transfer catcher Amanda Schatz totaled three hits over the two games and had an RBI in each contest including her first home run in a Royal Blue and White uniform.
GAME ONE: Fairmont State 5, Barton 2
Senior starter Chelsea Cobb only allowed one earned run in a complete game performance as the Fighting Falcons flew past Barton 5-2. Cobb (1-0) – the WVIAC Freshman of the Year in 2010 and two-time All-WVIAC selection – allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out seven in Fairmont State's season-opening win.
Senior Elizabeth Webb drew a leadoff walk to begin the game and eventually scored on an error to stake Barton to an early 1-0 lead.
FSU (1-0) took advantage of a passed ball and a throwing error in the bottom of the second, scoring a pair of unearned runs to take its first lead at 2-1. The rally included an RBI-double by freshman Sissy Stubbs.
Barton knotted the score at 2-all with its last run in the top of the third. Freshman Crystal Britton started the frame with about a five-foot single. The chopped ball stopped just a couple feet outside the batter's box on the third base chalk line and the speedy lefty beat the throw to first base. After being sac bunted over to second base by classmate Rachel Jordan, Britton scored on a double laced to left by Schatz.
The Fighting Falcons regained the lead for good in the home half of the third. Sophomore Carly Mundie knocked in the go-ahead run with a double to the left field gap and then scored on a single by senior Holly Frampton. Fairmont State got one last run in the fourth on an error.
Cobb held Barton to just two hits in the final four innings. Schatz, Britton and junior starting pitcher Autumn Pittman accounted for all six of the Lady Bulldogs hits with two base knocks apiece. Pittman (0-1) was tagged with the loss even though only two of the five runs she gave up were earned.
GAME TWO: Barton 6, Mansfield 2
Webb tossed a complete-game and Barton scored a season-high six runs to secure a 6-2 victory against the Mountaineers. Webb (1-2) only allowed four hits in her third career complete game while fanning five.
After the two teams traded a pair of runs in the first, Barton secured the lead with three runs in the second inning that featured a two-run double by Jordan.
Schatz drilled a leadoff home run to left field in the fifth to extend the Lady Bulldogs advantage to four runs.
Webb gave up a two-run homer to Mansfield junior Kate Pratt in the first inning but settled down with six consecutive scoreless frames to preserve Barton win. Pratt was 3-for-3 with three of the Mounties four hits but she was charged with the loss as the starting pitcher allowing five runs (two earned) over the first two innings.
Freshman second baseman Samantha Bass staked Barton to the initial lead with a two-run single up the middle of the infield in the first.
Six different Lady Bulldogs scored and BC's five hits came off five different bats. Mansfield had runners on base in six innings but three of Webb's five K's ended Mountaineers rallies as the third out of an inning.
