Box Score
by Kevin Buczek
TIGERVILLE, S.C.-After spotting host North Greenville University a five-run lead in the first inning, Barton College pulled away for 14-6 Conference Carolinas baseball victory on Friday afternoon at Ashmore Field.
The Bulldogs improved to 17-19 overall and 7-12 in the league while the Crusaders slipped to 14-26 and 5-14. The two teams will conclude the three-game conference series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at Noon.
All nine Barton starters had at least one hit as Barton belted 17 hits, which was the most in league play this season and second highest total on the campaign. Junior leadoff hitter Dillon Rudio had a game-high three singles while the next six batters in the Bulldog lineup had two hits apiece.
Sophomore Avery Harper drove in three-runs while senior starting pitcher Phillip Williams helped his own cause by scoring three times.
Williams got rocked for five runs in the first inning but settled down and only allowed one more run over his next five innings of work to earn the win. The southpaw improved to 3-2 by going six innings and fanning three Crusaders.
NGU took the early lead by producing four of its eight hits in the first inning.
The Bulldogs quickly raced ahead with seven runs in the top of the second. The frame featured six singles and a pair of RBI-doubles off the bats of sophomore JT Bunce and senior Clay Martin. Rudio, Senior Zac Crumpler, sophomore Spiers Miller all had run-producing singles before Williams capped the rally with a go-ahead single. Williams two-run base hit was his second base knock of the inning.
Allen Staton pulled the Crusaders to within one with his 10th homer of the season in the bottom of the second but Barton regained its two run advantage with an RBI double by Crumpler in the third.
The Bulldogs pulled away with four runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Harper had a bases clearing, three-run double in the fourth and sophomore Mitchell Wheeler came up with a run-producing double in the fifth.
Neither team score in the final three innings with Barton senior Christian Oliver tossing two hitless frames sophomore Ches Lamm hurling a scoreless ninth.
Martin, Williams, Wheeler, Harper, Crumpler and junior Collins Cuthrell all had two hits. Cuthrell, Wheeler and Harper scored twice. Williams, who had Barton's longest current hit streak at seven games, drove in two runs along with Crumpler and Bunce.
The Bulldogs jumped on North Greenville starter Ryan Woodring – an All-Conference pitcher last year – for 12 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits over the first four-plus innings. Woodring slipped under .500 at 3-4.
