Box Score by Cory Guinn
FRANKLIN SPRINGS, GA. – Five different pitchers combined to throw a four-hitter as the Barton College baseball team defeated host Emmanuel College 11-2 on Sunday to secure its first series sweep over a Conference Carolinas opponent this season.
The Bulldogs (17-23 11-12) scored the game's first run on an RBI single from junior Ben Williams in the top of the first before the Lions tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame, scoring on a wild pitch.
Barton took a 3-1 lead in the second inning when sophomore Andrew Webster drove in two runs with a double down the left field line. Emmanuel (5-30, 3-21) added a run in the bottom of the third on a solo home run from Eliot Beard but only managed two hits over the final six innings of play.
The fourth inning of play would see Barton add another run on an RBI double from the bat of senior Spiers Miller before erupting for four runs in the fifth inning.
Following a fly out by the first batter of the inning, senior Mitchell Wheeler walked and stole second to advance into scoring position. Sophomore Calvin Hawke then singled to center field, bringing the runner around to score and taking second on the throw from the outfield.
Sophomore Tyler Garrett then reached on an error by the Emmanuel shortstop, moving Hawke to third. After Garrett stole second base, Miller walked to load the bases with just one out on the scoreboard. Sophomore Jacob Willis then drove home two more runs before a sacrifice fly from Williams scored a runner from third and put Barton ahead by an 8-2 score.
Garrett recorded an RBI in the top of the sixth inning to extend the Barton lead to a seven-run edge before a two-run home run from Hawke, the first of his career, gave the Bulldogs an 11-2 lead in the eighth inning of play.
Senior Mike Brienza and junior Seth Breasseale combined for two scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth to secure the series sweep for Barton.
Redshirt-junior Louis DeCarolis got his sixth start of the season and allowed just one run on one hit with three strikeouts over two innings on the mound. Freshman Paschal Ammons (2-0) picked up the win after allowing one run on two hits with four strikeouts in four innings of relief.
Freshman left-hander Andrew Davis allowed only one hit with a strikeout in one inning of work, as Brienza and Breasseale each pitched one inning of relief, striking out one batter apiece.
Hawke was 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI, as Wheeler was also 2-for-4 with a double and three runs scored.
Miller turned in a 2-for-3 performance with two walks, a double, two runs scored and an RBI, while Garrett was 2-for-6 in the game with an RBI, four runs scored and three stolen bases. Webster, Williams and Willis each totaled two RBI of their own in the contest.
Barton returns to action with a home-and-home series against UNC Pembroke on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday's game will begin at 6 p.m. in Pembroke, N.C. while Wednesday's contest is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start time at Nixon Field in Wilson.
