Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader with visiting Belmont Abbey College at Fleming Stadium, winning game one 4-1 while suffering a 19-11 defeat in the final game of the day.
The Bulldogs overall record improved to 12-14, while their league mark improved to 6-7. The Crusaders now stand at 15-12 overall with an 11-6 record in Conference Carolinas play.
Game One: Barton 4 Belmont Abbey 1 (Seven Inn.)
Barton received a masterful performance on the mound from senior right-hander Brandon Warren (6-2) in the first game of the day as the Murfreesboro, N.C. native pitched a complete game and allowed just one run on four hits with a season-high eight strikeouts.
Belmont Abbey's lone run of the game came in the top of the first on a solo home run from Kayden Krouse to left field as the Crusaders were only able to muster three hits in the final six innings of play.
The Bulldogs would tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Jacob Willis used an RBI single to right field to bring across fellow sophomore Andrew Webster from second base.
In the top of the fifth, sophomore Tyler Garrett led off with a double to right center before senior Spiers Miller drove him home with an RBI single to center for a 2-1 Barton lead. After senior Avery Harper reached on a fielder's choice, Webster brought Miller across the plate for a 3-1 lead on a fielding error by the Crusader shortstop.
Another RBI-single from Willis extended the Barton lead to 4-1 as Warren shut the door with two scoreless innings to end the game.
Willis was 2-for-3 at the plate in game one with two RBI, while Miller and Webster each finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Game two: Belmont Abbey 19 Barton 11
The second game of the doubleheader was much different than the first as Belmont Abbey and Barton combined for 30 runs on 31 hits, forcing the two pitching staffs to throw a combined 411 pitches in the nine-inning affair.
Miller got the Bulldogs on the board first with a solo home run to left field after a seven-pitch at-bat, his fourth long shot of the season.
The Abbey came alive in the top of the third with three runs on just two hits, taking advantage of two walks for a 3-1 lead. However, Barton would tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the inning as junior Nick McKinney drove in two RBI with an infield single to the shortstop.
Belmont Abbey took a 5-3 lead in the fourth with a two-RBI double from Anthony Domino before extending its lead to 7-3 with a two-run fifth inning.
In the seventh inning, the Crusader offense caught fire, scoring eight runs on just six hits and taking advantage of two fielding error by the Bulldog defense for a 15-3
Barton loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles from senior Mitchell Wheeler and sophomore Calvin Hawke before Garrett was hit by a pitch with one out. Harper then cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple to right center, cutting the deficit to 15-6 in favor of the visiting team.
The Crusaders added their final four runs of the game in the top of the eighth to build a 19-6 lead heading to the final inning of play.
A one-out single from Garrett was followed by a pop-out to the Crusader second baseman as Harper came to the plate as the Bulldogs last hope. He then singled to right center before McKinney singled through the right side to bring Garret across the plate for an RBI.
At the plate with two runners on and two outs on the board, Webster belted a three-run shot over the left field fence before Willis drove in his third RBI of the day with a single to center field. The final batter of the game grounded out to third base as Belmont Abbey earned the 19-11 victory and two-game split.
Reining Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week Zach Breen (3-2) was stuck with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and five walks, throwing 101 pitches in three innings of work.
Sophomore Kerry Walker allowed three runs of his own on four hits with two strikeouts in two innings of relief, as junior Seth Breasseale pitched 1.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on three hits with a strikeout.
Freshman Paschal Ammons allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits with a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning, while senior Mike Brienza appeared in his six game of the season, allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits with a walk and one hit batter. Red-shirt freshman Josh Mims finished the final inning for Barton, striking out all three batters he faced in his third career game.
Harper led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance in the second game with a triple and three RBI, while Webster was 2-for-5, including his fourth home run of the year, with three RBI and a run scored. Miller was 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run, a run scored and an RBI as McKinney was 2-for-5 also with three RBI of his own.
Barton and Belmont Abbey will play the rubber match of the three-game series tomorrow, March 22 at 1 p.m.
