by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – Fresh off of a series victory over Conference Carolinas' foe Belmont Abbey College, the Barton College baseball program will travel to Murfreesboro, N.C. for the final game of the regular season finale against Chowan University. Tuesday's single game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start time.
Barton and Chowan began the year in Murfreesboro with the Hawks earning a 6-3 victory on their home field before traveling to Wilson for a doubleheader on February 11. The Bulldogs took game one of the day by a score of 14-4 in five innings before Chowan secured a split with a 5-4 victory in game two.
Chowan sports information will provide live stats for the game at Hawkins Field.
Barton baseball fans can follow the Bulldogs all season on www.BartonBulldogs.com and via social media including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Barton College Baseball
Over the weekend the Bulldogs took two games of a three-game series with Belmont Abbey College, winning the series finale 7-6 in dramatic fashion at nearby Fleming Stadium.
Barton's 13-14 overall record and 7-7 conference mark is led by an offense that has scored 178 runs on 258 total hits (.309 team average), including 76 extra-base hits with 28 home runs.
Twelve players have accumulated an average above the coveted .300 mark, led by sophomore Tyler Garrett with a .351 average and a team-high nine stolen bases. Among Garrett's 26 hits are three doubles, while scoring 17 runs and driving in six RBI in 23 games.
Senior Spiers Miller has compiled a .591 on-base percentage, .700 slugging percentage and a .350 average with 21 hits, including six doubles and a team-high five home runs, while leading the team with 25 RBI and scoring 17 runs of his own. Fellow senior Avery Harper leads the team with 31 hits (.348 average) of his own, including five doubles, a triple and four home runs, with 23 RBI and 19 runs scored.
On the mound, the Barton pitching staff has combined for a 5.47 ERA and 184 strikeouts over 207.1 innings, led by senior Brandon Warren, a Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week honoree from week five, who has a 6-2 record with a 3.42 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 47.1 innings pitched.
Senior Zach Breen, a three-time conference pitcher of the week, has appeared in eight games with a 3-2 record and a save with a 3.60 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 40 innings, while sophomore Kerry Walker has 10 total appearances (one start) with a 2-0 record and a 4.76 ERA over 17 innings on the mound.
Chowan University Baseball
The Hawks are currently riding a two-game win streak after sweeping a doubleheader with Virginia State University on Sunday, March 22 in Petersburg, Va. Chowan posts a 12-13 overall record and a 4-4 mark in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.
Five Chowan hitters post an average above .300 for an offense that has combined for 150 runs on 213 hits (.292 team average), including 74 extra-base hits with 46 doubles and 20 home runs.
Redshirt-sophomore Aaron Flanagan leads Chowan with a .477 average, recording 31 hits with two doubles, two triples and six home runs, while driving in a team-high 25 RBI and scoring 22 runs of his own. Junior Tyler Burden has totaled a team-high 37 hits of his own (.420 average), including five doubles, three triples and seven home runs, with 24 RBI and 28 runs scored.
On the mound, the Hawks' pitching staff has a 6.03 team ERA with 155 strikeouts over 183.2 innings of play, led by senior right-hander Evan Hart who has a 3-1 record in six starts with 32 strikeouts over 43.1 innings pitched and a 2.70 ERA. Junior Bobby Mason has a 2-2 overall record with a save and 11 strikeouts in 11.2 innings on the mound, as Burden is the team's top reliever, appearing in 11 games with a 2-2 record and three saves to go along with a 4.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 14 innings of work.
