Box Score by Cory Guinn
DUE WEST, S.C. – The Barton College baseball team opened conference play with a 9-0 loss to Erskine College on Friday afternoon at Grier Field.
The Bulldog (6-4, 0-1) offense went cold amid the freezing temperatures, accumulating just four total hits as Erskine's Wes Schuler pitched a complete game four-hitter with seven strikeouts in his third start of the year.
Erskine (10-0, 1-0) got on the scoreboard early with four runs on seven hits over the game's first two inning of play.
Junior Ben Youngblood led off the third inning with a single, but was forced out at second when sophomore Tyler Garrett reached on a fielder's choice. Garrett followed by stealing second for his team-leading fourth stolen base thus far, and advanced to third on a wild pitch following the second out of the inning. However, the runner would remain stranded as Schuler struck out the final batter of the inning.
Senior Brandon Warren settled in on the mound to sit the Flying Fleet down in order in both the third and fourth innings before being pulled to begin the seventh inning of play. Warren (2-2) suffered the loss on the mound for Barton, allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in his second start of the season.
The Fleet added two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as Barton was forced to use two relievers to escape further damage. Erskine scored its final three runs of the game in the bottom of the eighth to seal the shutout on their home field.
Sophomore Kerry Walker pitched 1/3 of an inning, allowing two runs on one hit with a walk, while redshirt-junior Louis DeCarolis totaled 2/3 of an inning, striking out one batter and walking two others. Freshman Trent Fennell finished off the final inning for Barton, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Youngblood led the offense with a 1-for-2 performance with a walk as senior Avery Harper finished 1-for-3 with his second double of the season.
Barton and Erskine will conclude the weekend series with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at noon.
