Box Score by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – Facing their second Top-25 opponent in three days, the Barton College baseball team dropped a midweek decision to non-conference foe No.24 Catawba College 16-5 on Tuesday afternoon at Nixon Field.
The Indians (20-4) scored early and often in Tuesday's contest, building an 11-0 lead after the top of the third inning before the Bulldogs were able to get on the scoreboard.
Redshirt-junior Matthew Berry began the bottom of the third with a single to left field before advancing to second on a single to center by senior Mitchell Wheeler. Following a line out to the Catawba second baseman, sophomore Tyler Garrett reached on a fielder's choice, driving Berry in from second to put the Bulldogs on the board.
Barton (11-13) scored its second run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when senior Avery Harper sent a ball over the left field fence on the first pitch of the inning to cut the Catawba lead to 11-2 after four.
However, the Indians were able to score five more runs in the top of the sixth on just two hits, taking advantage of a fielding error by the Bulldogs and three walks for a 16-2 lead.
The Bulldogs continued to battle, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth on two hits. Junior Nick McKinney drove in a run with an RBI-double to right-center field, advancing to third on the throw from the outfield. McKinney scored in the next at-bat when sophomore Shawn Montren grounded out to third to record his seventh RBI of the season.
Barton's final run of the game would come in the bottom of the eighth as McKinney drove in his second RBI of the game with a groundout to the shortstop, scoring JT Bunce from third base. The Bulldogs would load the bases with two-out in the bottom of the ninth but Indian pitcher Bryan Blanton was able to get the final batter of the game out on a swinging strikeout.
Ten of the Indians 19 total hits went for extra bases, including two home runs from the bat of freshman Chance Bowden who finished the day 2-for-4 with three runs scored and five RBI.
Junior Ricky Jernigan (0-1) suffered the loss in his second start of the season, allowing six runs on five hits with three walks in 1.2 innings of work. Freshman Trent Fennell pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing five runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout, while junior Seth Breasseale allowed two runs on two hits with three walks and a strikeout over two innings in his sixth appearance.
Senior Mike Brienza recorded an inning of work out of the bullpen, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits with a strikeout, before fellow senior Kyle Rufer pitched two innings of relief, allowing just three hits with two strikeouts. Freshman Paschal Ammons finished the final inning for Barton, allowing just two hits in his fifth game of the year.
Harper finished the day 2-for-3 from the plate with his third home run of the season, two runs scored and an RBI, while McKinney was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Sophomore Calvin Hawke was 1-for-2 with a walk in the game as Berry, Wheeler and sophomore Jacob Willis were each 1-for-3 at the plate.
Barton will play host to fellow Conference Carolinas member Belmont Abbey College this weekend in a three-game series beginning on Friday, March 20 in Wilson. Friday's game is scheduled to a 5 p.m. start at nearby Flemming Stadium with Saturday's doubleheader scheduled to begin at noon at Nixon Field.
In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Barton will wear special jerseys donned with CHEW across the chest which will be bid upon throughout the first game of the day. The team will change into its regular uniforms for game two and the winning bidders can collect their jerseys. All proceeds from the silent auction will go to benefit Children Hunger Elimination in Wilson County (CHEW).
