Box Score by Cory Guinn
MURFREESBORO, N.C. – Chowan's Connor Arcobasso was called out at home on a throw from left field, but the call was overturned due to a controversial interference ruling as the runner rounded third, leading to the Barton College baseball team's first loss of the 2017 season by a score of 8-7 in 11 innings.
Arcobasso, who singled with one out in the 11th and stole second, was advancing on a single by Marquis Lanier. Barton's Hunter Pearre fielded the ball cleanly and fired a throw to catcher Andrew Webster at home where Arcobasso was called out by the home plate umpire. However, the field umpire overruled the call and signaled to third indicating an interference call which allowed the run to count and give Chowan the win.
The loss handed Barton (13-1) its first loss of the season and ended a 13-game win streak, while the Hawks improved to 4-6 overall on the season.
The Hawks got on the scoreboard first with a two-run second inning, followed by another run in the third to build an early 3-0 lead.Barton responded with one run in both the fourth and fifth innings of play to cut the Chowan lead to a 3-2 margin.
In the seventh inning, senior Shawn Montren hit a leadoff single to left and advanced to second after fellow senior Blake Spangenberg was hit by a pitch. Classmate Tyler Garrett reached on a throwing error by the Chowan pitcher to load the bases for Pearre who singled to left center, scoring two runs and giving BC a 4-3 lead. Webster drove in another run as the Bulldogs led 5-3 with two innings to play.
Chowan retook the lead at 6-5 in the bottom half of the eighth, using a sacrifice fly to score a run and eventually plate two more runners with a two-run home run from Trent Brosdahl.
The Bulldogs continued to claw back on offense, taking advantage of a Chowan fielding error to tie the game at 6-6 before going ahead 7-6 on a sacrifice fly from redshirt-senior Chris Davis. Chowan retied the score at 7-all in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single to force extra innings.
After a scoreless 10th inning for both sides and a scoreless top half of the 11th for BC, the Hawks put together a one-out rally to eventually take the winning decision.
Freshman Landry Moore (0-1) was hit with the loss in his collegiate debut after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings of relief.
Sophomore Troy Maslowski started on the mound for the second time this season and gave up three runs (one earned) with five strikeouts over five innings, while senior left-hander Justin Evans pitched just 2/3 of an inning and allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits, including a home run.
Pearre led Barton at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored. Davis, Garrett and Webster each recorded an RBI in the contest.
Barton begins Conference Carolinas play on Friday with a three-game series against Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. Game one of the series is schedule is scheduled for a 5 p.m. start time.
