Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton baseball team lost game one 11-9 as a late-inning rally fell short and lost game two 10-1 to visiting North Greenville University on Saturday afternoon at Nixon Field.
With the two losses, Barton's record fell to 28-16 overall and 13-11 in Conference Carolinas play, while North Greenville's record improved to 33-12 with a 20-4 mark in the league.
Game One: North Greenville 11, Barton 9 (7 inn.)
The Bulldogs led early in the game after scoring two runs on a Chris Davis two-run home run in the first inning but North Greenville rallied for the victory in game one despite a late BC comeback effort.
North Greenville took the lead with three run in the third inning, going ahead 4-2 with a run added in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Hunter Pearre scored on a wild pitch and freshman Gatlin Pate drove in a run with a sacrifice fly as Barton and North Greenville were tied at 4-4 through four innings of play.
Six combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings pushed the Crusaders out to a 10-4 lead as Barton looked to rally with five runs on just two hits and one NGU error in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Juniors Tyler Garrett and Calvin Hawke each forced back-to-back bases loaded walks to score Barton's first two runs in the inning as fellow junior Andrew Webster brought a run home with an RBI single. Pearre concluded the scoring for BC with an RBI single to right that scored two runs before the inning came to an end.
The Crusaders added a run in the seventh and allowed just one BC baserunner in the bottom half to seal the win.
Barton starter Trent Fennell received a no-decision despite allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts over four innings of work. Junior Justin Evans allowed two runs without a hit, walking four batters in 2/3 of an inning.
Freshman Ryan Pifer (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing two runs on three hits in ½ of an inning, while fellow freshman Blake Helms pitched 1.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout. Senior Ricky Jernigan pitched the final 1/3 of an inning without allowing a hit.
C. Davis and Webster combined for four of Barton's eight total hits as Hawke, Pearre, junior Shawn Montren and freshman Ricks Dearing each had one hit apiece.
Game Two: North Greenville 10, Barton 1
Barton fell victim to the pitching performance of North Greenville's Tucker Burgess in game two of the Saturday twin bill. Burgess improved to 6-0 on the season after allowing just two hits with three strikeouts on 65 pitches over six innings on the mound.
North Greenville scored eight runs between the third and six innings, building an 8-0 lead before Barton got on the scoreboard. C. Davis scored from third on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh for the Bulldogs' only run.
The Crusaders scored one run each in the eighth and ninth innings as Barton was forced to use six pitchers in the loss.
Starter Kerry Walker (4-3) allowed six runs on 10 hits with one strikeout over five innings of work. Redshirt-sophomore Benjamin Brann allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in an inning of work before sophomore Andrew Davis pitch an inning of relief, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
Jernigan and freshman Jordan Ramos each allowed a run in respective relief appearances, while redshirt sophomore Josh Mims got the final two outs, including one strikeout, in the game.
Davis was once again 2-for-4 at the plate as Hawke and Pate were the only other Bulldogs to record a hit in the series finale.
Barton travels to Salisbury, N.C. for a non-conference matchup with Catawba College on Tuesday, April 19 at 6 p.m.
