Box Score by Cory Guinn
WILSON, N.C. – The Barton baseball team held an early lead but the Indians of No. 28 Catawba hit three home runs en route to a 7-3 win over the Bulldogs on Tuesday afternoon at Nixon Field.
Barton (18-12) scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the opening inning before adding another in the second on an RBI single from sophomore Troy Maslowski to build an early 2-0 lead.
However, Catawba (20-7), ranked No. 28 by the latest Collegiate Baseball Poll, answered with a solo home run from Jackson Raper in the third and three runs in the fourth to take a 4-2 advantage.
The Indian's lead extended to 5-2 following another solo home run, this time a shot to straight away center field from Chance Bowden. A sacrifice fly in the eight and another solo home run in the ninth put Catawba ahead 7-2, leaving Barton with just half an inning to form a comeback.
Senior Landon Dunlap led off the home half of the ninth by drawing a walk and was replaced by pinch runner Hayden Amodeo who advanced to second after Maslowski was hit by a pitch.
Junior Christian Dix reached first on a fielder's choice and advanced to second as a throwing error by the Indians allowed Amodeo to cross the plate.
The BC rally fell short as a foul out and a swinging strikeout ended the game with a runner stranded at third.
Barton sophomore Jordan Ramos (0-1) was hit with the loss after allowing five runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts over five innings of work.
Redshirt-junior Josh Mims allowed just one unearned run with a hit, a strikeout and a walk in three innings of relief, but hit two batters in the process. Sophomore Chase Long finished out the game, allowing one run on two hits, including a home run.
Senior Calvin Hawke finished 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen bases as he was the only Bulldog to record a multi-hit game.
The Bulldogs return to Conference Carolinas play this weekend with a three-game series against Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga. beginning on Friday afternoon.
