Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 by Cory Guinn
GAFFNEY, S.C. – The Barton College baseball team was swept in a Saturday doubleheader with Limestone as the Saints earned a 5-2 victory in game one and a 10-8 win in the final game of the day at Founders FCU Stadium.
Barton's overall record fell to 13-18 on the season and 7-10 in Conference Carolinas play as Limestone improved to 10-21 overall and 6-12 in league play with the three-game sweep.
Game One: Limestone 5 Barton 2 (Seven inn.)
Limestone was able to score first in game one, using an RBI single from Logan Conley to build a 1-0 lead in the first inning. The Saints added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 4-0 advantage as the Barton offense was held hitless over the first four innings of play.
Sophomore Jacob Willis broke up the no-hitter in the top of the fifth with a one-out single to third base, followed by a single through the left side from fellow sophomore Andrew Webster.
Barton brought its first run of the game across the plate in the top of the sixth as sophomore Tyler Garrett singled to left and junior Ben Youngblood reached on an error to put runners on first and second. After a strikeout, Matthew Berry singled through the left side to cut the Limestone lead to 4-1.
The Saints added their final run in the bottom of the sixth before sophomore Calvin Hawke drove in a run with an RBI single through the right side for Barton's second and final run.
Senior left-hander Kyle Rufer (1-4) took the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits with a strikeout in four innings. Sophomore Kerry Walker allowed one run on three hits with three strikeouts over the final two innings of relief.
Webster led the Bulldog offense with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double and a run scored. Berry was 1-for-2 in the game with an RBI, while Hawke finished 1-for-3 with an RBI of his own.
Game Two: Limestone 10 Barton 8
Barton struck first in the final game of the day, scoring three runs on three hits in the third inning for a 3-0 advantage.
Youngblood led off the third with a triple to right center, as the next batter struck out before freshman Hunter Pearre reached on a walk. Following the second strikeout of the inning, junior Shawn Montren doubled to right-center field, scoring the Bulldogs first run of the game. Willis followed with an RBI single down the left field line to clear the bases and bring two runs across the plate.
The Bulldog lead would grow to a 7-0 edge after scoring four runs on four hits with a Limestone error in the fourth inning. Sophomore Blake Spangenberg reached on a single through the left side, advancing to third when senior Mitchell Wheeler singled on a bunt and advanced to second on a throwing error.
Spangenberg scored one batter later as Hawke recorded an RBI with a groundout to short. Following a walk to Pearre, and RBI single from Webster gave Barton a five-run lead. In the ensuing at-bat, Montren doubled to center field, scoring to more runs and pushing the Bulldog lead to 7-0 after four innings of play.
Limestone battled back to score five runs on just three hits in the sixth inning, adding one more in the seventh as Barton's lead stood at 7-6 with two innings remaining.
After both teams went scoreless in the eighth, an RBI single to left field by Spangenberg added an insurance run and put the Bulldogs ahead by two.
However, the second batter of the ninth for Limestone doubled to left-center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt before being driven in on a throwing error by the Barton defense to cut the deficit to just one run.
The next Saints' batter singled through the right side as a wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third with two outs on the scoreboard. Limestone sent pinch-hitter Justin Tepper to the plate who sent a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence to score three runs and give the home team a 10-8 win.
Redshirt-junior Louis DeCarolis went 5.1 innings in his fourth start of the season, allowing five runs on six hits and matching a season-high with seven strikeouts. Freshman Andrew Davis came on in relief, allowing one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of relief. Walker retired the only batter he faced in his 12th appearance of the year while freshman Paschal Ammons allowed just two hits in one inning of relief work.
Senior Mike Brienza allowed three unearned runs on just two hits in 2/3 of an inning as junior Seth Breasseale (0-2) was hit with his second loss in as many days after allowing one run on one hit, the walk-off home run, to the only batter he faced in the contest.
Spangenberg was 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in his first start of the season, while Montren was 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and three RBI. Willis finished the game 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI of his own as Webster was 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Barton's road trip will continue on Wednesday, April 1 as the Bulldogs travel to Florence, S.C. for a doubleheader with Francis Marion University beginning at 5 p.m.
