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Box Score 2 WILSON, N.C. – The Barton softball team (6-8) snapped an eight-game losing streak and recovered with a doubleheader sweep of Mercy (3-3), 2-1 and 6-4, Friday afternoon at Jeffries Field.
Game One – Barton 2, Mercy 1
Barton scored both its runs in the bottom of the first inning and held on to defeat Mercy behind the pitching of freshman AnnaKate Gilchrist (Clayton, N.C.). Gilchrist allowed just one run in the complete game victory.
Barton freshman third baseman Lindsey Massengill (Kenly, N.C.) had an RBI double while sophomore outfielder Sidney Gronowski (Fayetteville, N.C.) also drove in a run in the frame. Massengill finished with three hits to lead the home team offensively.
Mercy's Erika Byrne (San Diego, Calif.) drove in the Mavericks' lone run in the fourth inning while Katelyn Shephard (Beaumont, Calif.) (1-2) was tagged with the loss despite allowing two runs and going the distance.
Game Two – Barton 6, Mercy 4
Massengill hit the game-winning, bases-clearing double in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs as the Bulldogs rallied from a 4-0 deficit to complete the sweep. Barton sophomore first baseman Jordan Blake (Jackson Springs, N.C.) added two hits and an RBI while Gilchrist (3-4) pitched four scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory on the mound.
For Mercy, Ylannah Bowman (Temecula, Calif.) finished with three hits and a run batted in but Catherine Zucker (North Babylon, N.Y.) fell to 0-1 after being tagged with the loss.
Barton returns to the field on Wednesday, March 4, when the Bulldogs face Franklin Pierce at the Fastpitch Dreams Classic in Little River, S.C., beginning at 5:30 p.m. Mercy faces Mount Olive in Mount Olive, N.C, on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
