Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 by Cory Guinn
HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – Despite playing on an unfamiliar field in chilly conditions, the Barton College baseball teams earned a doubleheader sweep over Salem International University on Saturday night. BC won the first game of the evening 6-4 and defeated the Tigers 2-1 in game two behind a dominant pitching performance at the North Main Athletic Complex.
The Bulldogs, who played the doubleheader at a neutral site due to inclement weather in Wilson, now have a three-game winning streak and sit at 3-1 overall while Salem International is now 0-2 over their first two contests of the season.
Game One: Barton 6, Salem International 4
Barton scored five runs in the first three innings of game one, leading to an eventual two-run victory.
Junior Shawn Montren led off the second inning with a double and advanced to third following a Ben Youngblood single. Montren scored the game's first run after a throw from the Salem International catcher sailed into left field past the glove of an outstretched third baseman.
BC broke the game loose with four runs on five hits in the third inning and taking advantage of another Tiger error. Junior Andrew Webster put the Bulldogs ahead by two with an RBI-single before a miscue from Salem International allowed two more runs to cross the plate. Freshman Gatlin Pate also drove in a run with a single to left field as Barton led 5-0 early on.
Salem got a run back in the top of the fourth, however, senior Ben Williams ripped a triple into the right field gap easily scoring a runner from third to give Barton a six-run lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Two Tiger runs scored on a Barton throwing error in the bottom of the sixth, followed by another run in the top of the eighth as the BC lead dwindled to a 6-4 edge with the bases loaded and two outs on the scoreboard. Freshman Troy Maslowski came into the game and struck out the first batter he faced to end the threat. Maslowski closed the door in the top of the ninth to earn his first career save.
Sophomore Trent Fennell went 3.1 innings on the mound to start the game for Barton, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts. Junior transfer Justin Evans (1-0) picked up his first career win after allowing two unearned runs on five hits with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief. Maslowski allowed just one hit over 1.1 innings in his first appearance as a Bulldog.
Montren finished the first game 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and two runs scored, while Williams was 2-for-5 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Webster and Pate also recorded RBIs in the game.
Game Two: Barton 2, Salem International 1 (Seven inn.)
In the second game of the night, Barton sophomore Kerry Walker shut down the Salem International offense in his first start of the season. The right-hander pitched a complete game, allowing just one unearned run on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk.
The Tigers struck first in game two as Trent Dalton scored on a throwing error trying to steal third to put Salem International ahead 1-0 in the third inning. Barton responded in the bottom of the frame as an RBI-single by junior Calvin Hawke scored fellow junior Tyler Garrett from second to tie the game at one run apiece.
Williams drove in his second run of the night in the bottom of the fifth inning, hitting a single in the hole at second to bring Hawke across the plate to put BC ahead 2-1. Walker did not allow a base runner over the final two innings to secure the win.
At the plate in game two, Williams finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI as Hawke turned in a 1-for-2 performance with a run scored and an RBI of his own.
Barton will host Glenville State College in a four-game series beginning Saturday, February 13 at Nixon Field. Game one of the day is scheduled to being at Noon.
