Box Score by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Golden Bears of Kutztown University completed a three-game sweep of the Barton College Bulldogs baseball team with a 9-4 victory on Wednesday afternoon at Nixon Field.
Barton (9-11) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when junior Nick McKinney hit a two-run home run to right center field.
The Bulldog lead grew to a 3-0 advantage in the third inning after McKinney recorded his third RBI of the game bringing Spiers Miller across the plate with an RBI-single to left field.
Following two scoreless innings, Kutztown (8-0) took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning, scoring four runs on four hits and a Barton error. The inning was highlighted by three RBI-singles for the Golden Bears as the fourth run scored as a result of a bases-loaded double-play.
Kutztown added another run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Cox before extending the lead to 6-3 on an RBI single by Ben Eppley in the top of the eighth inning.
Sophomore Andrew Webster drove in a run after reaching on a throwing error by the Kutztown third baseman before the Golden Bears used a three-run ninth, including back-to-back RBI-doubles, to take a five-run lead.
The Bulldogs were able to put runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but the final two batters went down in order to seal the defeat.
Redshirt-junior Louis DeCarolis (0-1) was credited with the loss in his second start of the season after allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits with a career-high seven strikeouts over five innings.
Junior Seth Breasseale allowed one run on three hits in two innings of relief before giving way to freshman Paschal Ammons who pitched one inning on the mound, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Senior Jackson Pardue his first appearance of the season, allowing two runs on two hits with a strikeout in 1/3 of an inning, as freshman Josh Mims pitched the final 2/3 of an inning, striking out two batters in a no-hit relief appearance.
McKinney was the start on offense for Barton, finishing the day 3-for-4 with a double and his team-leading fourth home run of the season to along with three RBI and a run scored. Miller was 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and a stolen base, while sophomores Tyler Garrett and Jacob Willis were each 1-for-4 in the game.
Barton will be in action again this weekend when they travel to Mount Olive, N.C. for a three-game series with rival University of Mount Olive. The first game of the series is schedule to begin Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m. at Scarborough Field.
