Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
by Kevin Buczek
DUE WEST, S.C.-A two-run rally in the top of the seventh was not enough to prevent Barton College from being swept in a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader at Erskine College on Friday afternoon.
The Flying Fleet shutout the Lady Bulldogs, 1-0, in the first game before completing the sweep with a walk-off 3-2 victory in the second game. Erskine improved to 5-8-1 Overall and 3-1 in the conference. Barton dropped to 3-11 and 0-4.
Freshman left fielder Crystal Britton and senior first baseman Rebecka Morgan led the Lady Bulldogs with three hits apiece.
Barton next plays a rescheduled twin bill at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C., on Monday at 2 p.m.
GAME ONE: Erskine 1, Barton 0
Senior starter Kelsey Spurrier – the 2011 Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year – held Barton scoreless in a complete-game shutout and classmate Jordan Suther knocked in the openers only run with an RBI-single in the fourth to lead the hosts to the 1-0 victory.
Spurrier only allowed four hits and two walks over seven innings for the win. The three-time All-Conference hurler recorded 10 strikeouts.
Barton had numerous chances to score leaving nine total Lady Bulldogs stranded on base including runners in scoring position in the first, third, fourth and fifth.
Britton led the Royal Blue and White going 2-for-4 with a pair of leadoff singles in the first and third.
Junior Autumn Pittman pitched well enough to get her straight win by holding a potentially explosive Erskine offense to just one run on eight hits over six innings. Pittman (1-4) took the loss with no run support while fanning three.
GAME TWO: Erskine 3, Barton 2
Junior Whitney Brown drilled a walk-off home run to left field to lead off the bottom of the seventh as the Fleet took the nightcap 3-2.
Barton trailed 2-nil heading into the seventh before scoring its first two runs in league play in four games to tie the score. Senior Elizabeth Webb drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a one-out single by Morgan. Senior Amanda Schatz then plated Webb with a double before senior Taylor Barker knocked in pinch runner sophomore Emily Leagon with a sacrifice fly to left.
Spurrier (4-4) relieved freshman starter Kaitlyn White after Schatz' double and recorded two consecutive outs to keep the Lady Bulldogs from taking the lead. Spurrier (4-4) was then credited with her second win of the day after Brown crushed the game-winning blast in the home half.
Freshman righty Liz White returned to the pitcher's circle for the first time since the opening weekend because of injury and had a decent performance. White (0-3) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits while posting five strike outs.
Schatz reached base safely in all three of her plate appearances going 2-for-2 and being hit by a pitch. Morgan also produced two hits as the senior duo accounted for four of the Lady Bulldogs six base knocks.
The Fleet got on the board with an unearned run in the third before a Brown single in the fourth doubled up Erskine's advantage. Brown was 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Britton led off the game with a double to extend her hit streak to six games.
