Box Score by Benny Benton
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College baseball team collected nine hits on Sunday against visiting Bloomsburg University – including three by Andrew Webster and two by Phillip Cotten – but the Bulldogs failed to turn their chances into runs and eventually paid the price in an 11-2 loss at Nixon Field.
The Huskies (6-3), which never trailed after scoring in the second inning, also struggled to put away the Bulldogs in the middle innings, and despite the double-figure run total still stranded 11 runners on base. However, Bloomsburg finally broke a one-run game open with a four-run seventh inning, and tacked on two runs in each of the final two frames.
The loss dropped Barton to 5-10 on the year as it finished up an eight-game home stand.
Both Cotten and Matt Tilley earned outfield assists for throwing out runners at the plate to keep the Bulldogs close. However, Barton hurt itself by having two runners caught stealing after being picked off from first by Bloomsburg left-handed starter Tyler Hill, and twice the Bulldogs had bunts popped up, one that turned into a double-play and another that happened with one out and the bases loaded in a one-run game.
The top of the Bloomsburg lineup came up big, combining for 10 of the team's 15 hits and eight of the 11 runs. Leadoff man Eric Frain went 3-for-6, while cleanup hitter Corey Baiada went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Nick Mazza and Joey Casselberry were both 2-for-5, with Casselberry collecting two RBI. All four players scored twice.
The Huskies took a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in top of the second inning. Baiada led off the frame with a single off Barton starter Ricky Jernigan (0-2) and stole second. One out later, Damin Muth hit a grounder to the third-base side of shortstop Dillon Rudio with Baiada running toward the third base bag. However, Rudio kicked the ball away, allowing Baiada to reach safely. One batter later, he scored on a double into the right-field corner by Brad Smith. Muth tried to tag and score on a fly ball to right off the bat of Tim Ravel, but Tilley's throw to the plate was perfect.
Bloomsburg increased its advantage to 3-0 the following inning after getting consecutive singles to lead off the frame from A.J. Stump and Frain. The two runners were moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt from Mazza, and both came home on Baiada's two-out single to left.
Barton got one run back in the bottom of the third when Tilley singled to lead off the frame, moved to second on Ben Youngblood's sacrifice bunt, stole third and came home Tyler Garrett's RBI groundout to second base.
The Huskies chased Jernigan and threatened again in the fourth after Muth led off the frame with a double and Ravel was hit by a pitch one out later. With two outs, Frain laced a single to left field on which Muth tried to score from second, but for the second time in the game, he was gunned down at the plate, this time by Webster on the relay throw from Cotten in left.
Jernigan left the game having pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. He did not walk a batter and struck out a pair.
Singles by Snooter Merryman and Chris Davis gave Barton a promising start to the fifth inning. However, after Tilley struck out, Youngblood fouled back a bunt attempt while Davis was trying to steal second base. Bloomsburg's catcher, Baiada, caught the ball just before running into the backstop and then threw down to first, easily doubling-up Davis.
The Bulldogs did produce a run and chase Hill in the sixth after Cotten doubled with one out and scored on Mitchell Wheeler's single to left field. A walk to Rudio that ended Hill's day and a single by Webster off reliever Cody Heane loaded the bases – still with only one out – but Merryman was attempted a bunt and popped it up to the catcher. Heane then got a liner to center off the bat of Chris Davis to escape with the lead intact.
Hill (1-0) gave up seven hits and two runs, walking three and striking out a pair in his 5 1/3 innings of work for the Huskies. After the single by Webster, Heane allowed just one more hit in his 2 2/3 innings on the mound. He did not give up a run, walked one and struck out three.
The Huskies then put the game away with their four-run seventh inning, which was produced on just two hits and no Barton errors. Bloomsburg started off the frame with a single by Mazza and a hit batsman, and Baiada sacrificed them into scoring position. Barton reliever Zach Breen struck out Brian Almand, but then issued three consecutive walks, the first loading the bases and the next two forcing in runs.
With the bases still loaded and one out, Breen was lifted in favor of Kerry Walker, who was greeted by a single right back up the middle by pinch-hitter James Ott, driving in two more runs to put the Huskies up 7-2.
Bloomsburg added two more runs in the eighth on a single by Casselberry, a double by Baiada and a two-out error on a grounder to short. The Huskies tacked on another two runs in the ninth following a single by Frain, a double by Mazza and a two-run single to right by Casselberry off Barton reliever Seth Breasseale.
With his three hits on Sunday, Webster extended his hitting streak to seven straight games.
The Bulldogs will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in Greeneville, Tenn., for a three-game series with Tusculum College. The doubleheader is slated for Tuesday, with game one scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.
