Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College baseball team was swept by Erskine in a Saturday doubleheader as the Flying Fleet used two late-inning rallies to down the Bulldogs at Nixon Field.
Erskine scored three runs in the final inning of game one to secure a 3-1 win, before earning a 5-2 extra-inning win in the series finale. The Flying Fleet improved its record to 23-8 overall with a 10-2 league mark, while the Bulldogs fell to 17-9 with a 7-5 Conference Carolinas record.
Game One: Erskine 3, Barton 1 (Seven inn.)
The first game of Saturday's doubleheader began with a pitcher's duel as Erskines Alex Calvert and Barton's Trent Fennell allowed just three combined hits through the first four innings of play.
Barton scored the game's first run in the bottom of the fifth inning as junior Calvin Hawke drove in a run with an RBI single through the left side. However, Erskine scored three runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning to earn a 3-1 lead.
Calvert earned the win following a complete game performance in which he allowed one run on four hits with nine strikeouts. Fennell (3-3) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings of work. Freshman right-hander Troy Maslowski finished off the seventh by forcing a fly out to right field.
Hawke was 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, while fellow junior Blake Spangenberg was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Game Two: Erskine 5, Barton 2 (10 inn.)
For the second straight day, Erskine scored three runs in the top of the 10th inning to defeat the Bulldogs 5-2 on their home field.
The Bulldogs got ahead early in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single from junior Jacob Willis, his 12th RBI of the season.
Junior right-hander Kerry Walker allowed just five hits to the Flying Fleet over the game's first seven innings as he looked to pick up the win and help BC avoid a sweep. However, Erskine's Kyle Heiss doubled to lead off the eighth inning and stole third before scoring on an error to tie the game at one run apiece.
Barton responded in the bottom of the inning by putting runners on second and third as redshirt-junior Chris Davis drove in a run to put BC ahead 2-1 with one inning to play.
Erskine's Destin Nichols hit a two-out, solo home run to left field in the top of the ninth to tie the game once again. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth but a strike out and ground out forced extra innings.
Hiess singled to begin the 10th inning and advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt and fly out. Chase Watts brought home the eventual winning run with a single to right center as Erskine scored twice more in the inning to build a three-run lead. The Bulldogs went down in order in the bottom half of the inning, leading to the loss.
Walker (4-1) was given his first loss of the season after allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts in nine innings on the mound.
Maslowski allowed one run on one hit in 2/3 of an inning, while redshirt-sophomore Benjamin Brann allowed one run on two hits without recording an out. Freshman Ryan Pifer pitched 1/3 of an inning in his seventh appearance of the season.
Willis recorded two of Barton's four hits in the game and drove in a run, while junior Andrew Webster and sophomore Hunter Pearre had one hit apiece.
Barton hosts South Atlantic Conference member Catawba College on Tuesday, March 22 at 2 p.m. in their next contest.
