ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The Barton College softball team (3-5) split a doubleheader with North Carolina Wesleyan (1-1) Sunday afternoon at Edge Field. The Battling Bishops won the first contest by a 5-1 score while the Bulldogs salvaged the split by beating the home team, 9-1, in the nightcap.
Game One – North Carolina Wesleyan 5, Barton 1
The Battling Bishops took control with a four-run second inning highlighted by a two-run double from Meredith Booth (Manteo, N.C.) while Beth Braswell (Princeton, N.C.) (1-0) allowed just one run in the complete-game victory. Braswell scattered eight hits to go along with four strikeouts.
For Barton, senior shortstop
Mikayla Rose (Beaufort, N.C.) helped the Bulldogs avoid the shutout with a solo home run in the sixth inning but sophomore
AnnaKate Gilchrist (Clayton, N.C.) (0-4) was tagged with the loss.
Game Two – Barton 9, North Carolina Wesleyan 1
Rose hit her second home run of the day – a three-run round-tripper – as part of a six-run third inning to help the Bulldogs take control on their way to salvaging the split.
Barton sophomore designated player
Sloane Correa (Greenville, N.C.) added two hits and two runs batted in while freshman
Rilee Jones (Virginia Beach, Va.) improved to 3-1 after going the distance. Jones threw a three-hitter while allowing just one run to go along with six strikeouts. North Carolina Wesleyan's Grace Preston (New Bern, N.C.) (0-1) was tagged with the setback.
Barton returns home to face Georgia College on Saturday, March 6, in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m., while North Carolina Wesleyan next plays at Carolina University on Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
