Box Score by Benny Benton
MISENHEIMER, N.C. – Freshman Andrew Webster provided a key two-run homer and the Barton College pitching staff surrendered just one earned run in claiming an important 6-3 Conference Carolinas baseball victory over Pfeiffer University Friday at Joe Ferebee Field.
The win by the fifth-place Bulldogs (14-24, 7-9) over the third-place Falcons (24-17, 11-7) kept Barton in position to earn one of the top six spots in the league standings and qualify for the Conference Carolinas Tournament in two weeks.
Webster's two-run blast, his second of the season, came after Pfeiffer had gained momentum in the game by cutting a 4-0 deficit to 4-3 with a single run in the fifth and two more runs in the sixth. The Falcons moved the game-tying run to second base in the seventh, but Barton reliever Mike Brienza struck out Pfeiffer leadoff hitter Jon Gray to end the inning.
Mitchell Wheeler opened the Barton eighth with a single to center field, and Webster followed by taking the first pitch he saw in the at-bat from Pfeiffer starter Ethan Greene (6-2) over the fence in left, giving the Bulldogs some much-needed breathing room.
Greene, who came into the contest with one of the top earned run averages in the league, 2.96, went 7 2/3 innings, allowing all six runs – four earned – and walking one.
After Webster's homer, Zach Breen pitched a scoreless eighth for the Bulldogs, and Barton closer Snooter Merryman kept the Falcons off the board in the ninth for his sixth save of the season in as many chances.
Merryman protected the win for Barton starter Brandon Warren (1-4), who took a no-hitter into the fourth inning before Pfeiffer's top hit producer, Tyler Summers, singled on a slow-roller deep into the hole at short.
That remained the only hit for the Falcons off Warren until the fifth, when Matt Wade doubled to lead off the fifth, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on another infield single to short by Dalton Lindley.
That run cut the deficit to 4-1, as Barton had opened up a four-run advantage with a big fourth inning that was set up by a Pfeiffer error. Wheeler reached base to open the frame on the miscue by the pitcher, Greene, and moved to second on a wild pitch. Webster then singled to short, and Avery Harper singled to right to load the bases with no one out.
A groundout by Jacob Willis drove in Wheeler with the game's first run. Phillip Cotten and Tyler Garrett both collected painful RBIs by forcing in runs after getting hit by a pitch, increasing Barton's lead to 3-0. Dillon Rudio delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in the fourth run of the inning.
Barton's sometimes shaky defense opened the door for Pfeiffer to get back in the game in the sixth, however. An error charged to Rudio as he attempted to catch-and-turn at second base on a potential inning-ending double-play ball instead left the bases loaded and one out.
Wade then hit a slow roller to second, and the runner on his way to second base was tagged out by fielder Calvin Hawke, who was just a few steps away. However, while Hawke was busy applying the tag, not only did the runner from third score, but the runner who had been on second as well, giving the Falcons two runs on the play and cutting the deficit to 4-3.
Warren got out of the inning without further damage after getting a line drive to right, and continued to pitch until a bunt single by Kyle Hackney with one out in the seventh. Warren left having allowed six hits and just one earned run. He did not walk a batter and struck out four.
Lefty reliever Seth Breasseale came on to get one out, then turned the ball over to Brienza to finish off the seventh before Webster's homer in the eighth gave Barton the momentum back.
Webster had two hits, and seven other Bulldogs collected one each. Summers, Hackney and Cole McGraw each recorded two of Pfeiffer's eight hits.
The two teams will meet again in a doubleheader beginning Saturday at noon.
