Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
ASHEBORO, N.C.-Senior Zac Crumpler and freshman Bobby Jones drove in Barton College's only runs in an 8-2 non-conference loss to Collegiate Baseball sixth-ranked Catawba College on late Friday afternoon at McCrary Park.
Junior second baseman Julio Zubillaga drove in four Indian runs and senior starter Nick Lomascolo hurled 12 strikeouts over seven strong innings as Catawba remained undefeated on the season at 5-0.
The Bulldogs (1-2 overall) got hits in seven of nine innings but Barton stranded a total of nine base runners.
The defending Southeast Region champions jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the first two innings. Zubillaga – the NCAA DII Southeast Regional MVP and World Series All-Tournament selection in 2012 – highlighted the Indians early scoring with an RBI-single in the first and a two-run double the second. Zubillaga capped his big game with a bases loaded walk in the sixth to plate Catawba's final run.
Lomascolo, who was a winning pitcher in the World Series last season, continued his strong start to his final season allowing just one run over seven innings. The Bulldogs scattered six hits on the southpaw but they struck out a dozen times. Lomascolo improved to 2-0.
Barton junior Collins Cuthrell drilled a double into the right field gap – BC's only extra base knock on Lomascolo – to lead off the top of the sixth and later scored on a seeing-eyed single by Crumpler.
Cuthrell and sophomore Mitchell Wheeler (singled in the third) have hit safely in each of the Bulldogs first three games.
Barton was able to dig out one more run in its last at bat. With two outs in the top of the ninth, junior Phillip Cotten was hit by a pitch. Sophomore pinch runner Andre Turnquest then scored from first on an ensuing double by Jones to left-center.
Jones took advantage of his first collegiate plate appearance by producing his first hit and RB in a Royal Blue and White uniform as the pinch hitter.
Senior Christian Oliver made his second start in three days for the Bulldogs and was tagged with the loss after losing the strike zone. Oliver (1-1) surrendered six earned runs on five walks, two hits and one wild pitch over the first 1 2/3 innings. Sophomore Duncan Everett was the most effective of Barton's six pitchers to toe the rubber retiring all seven batters he faced in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Both teams finished with eight hits but 10 walks allowed by the Bulldogs hurlers proved costly. Junior left fielder Ethan Satterfield drew three bases on balls and scored all three times while swiping two stolen bags.
Barton plays two more games at the Asheboro Copperheads' McCrary Park on Saturday. The Bulldogs will take a second try at knocking off the sixth-ranked Indians at 2 p.m. before playing Conference Carolinas foe Pfeiffer University in a non-conference game at 5 p.m.
