Box Score by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton College baseball team scored 14 runs on just 13 hits, drawing nine walks and taking advantage of four errors in a 14-7 defeat of Clarion University on Monday at Nixon Field.
Junior Tyler Garrett led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and later stole second to put a runner in scoring positon. Following a walk to junior Andrew Webster, fellow junior Shawn Montren reached on a fielding error by Clarion's shortstop which allowed Garrett to score and give Barton a 1-0 lead.
Clarion used an RBI single and an RBI double to take a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning before Barton retook the lead with three runs on two hits in the fifth. Garrett drove in two runs with an RBI single through the ride side before Webster had an RBI single of his own to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.
In the top of the sixth inning, Clarion once again used an RBI single and an RBI double to drive in runs and tie the game at 4-4. However, in the bottom half of the inning, junior Calvin Hawke and Garrett recorded back-to-back RBI singles to give BC the lead. Hawke later scored from third on a wild pitch to put Barton ahead 7-4.
The Bulldogs added to their lead total in the seventh inning as an RBI double down the right field line from junior Blake Spangenberg drove in a run before Clarion's Tyler Delval hit a three-run home run over the left field fence to cut the BC lead to 8-7 in the top of the eighth inning.
Barton responded in the bottom of the eighth, scoring six runs on six hits with one Clarion error. After Garrett led off the inning with a single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch, Pearre traded places with an RBI double to left center. Webster then belted his sixth home run over the season to center field, driving in two runs and putting BC ahead 11-7.
Freshman Jacobey Dolesh scored from third on a wild pitch and Spangenberg brought two runs across the plate with an RBI single to conclude the scoring for Barton.
Freshman left-hander Blake Helms got his first career start and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work.
Senior Ricky Jernigan (1-0) picked up the win after pitching 2.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts as freshman Ryan Pifer struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning.
Garrett led the offense with a 4-for-6 performance, scoring three runs and recording three RBI. The outfielder also stole two bases, bringing his season total to 17 in just 15 games played.
Webster and Spangenberg had two hits and three RBI each, while freshman Troy Maslowski was 1-for-1 and drew four walks, scoring four runs. Pearre was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, two walks, a run scored and an RBI.
Barton begins a three-game series with Kutztown University tomorrow with a doubleheader at Nixon Field scheduled to begin at Noon.
