BELMONT, N.C. – Barton (9-11, 2-4) and Belmont Abbey (5-11, 3-3) split a Conference Carolinas softball doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Crusader Field. The Bulldogs won in eight innings over the Crusaders, 5-3, in the first contest while Belmont Abbey won the nightcap, 8-0, to salvage the split.
Game One – Barton 5, Belmont Abbey 3
Barton sophomore second baseman
Emily Bell (Bunn, N.C.) finished with two runs batted in including the game-tying, run-scoring single in the sixth frame to force the contest into extra innings. Barton then plated a pair in the top of the eighth to pull out the win including an RBI by Bell.
Belmont Abbey was led by Morgan Smith (Aiken, S.C.) with two hits and a two-run home run in the fifth frame in the losing effort. Barton freshman
Rilee Jones (Virginia Beach, Va.) improved to 7-3 after the complete game victory in addition to six strikeouts while Annabeth Watkins (Wendell, N.C.) (2-6) took the loss.
Game Two – Belmont Abbey 8, Barton 0
Belmont Abbey's Alannah Browne (Suwanee, Ga.) (2-4) pitched a one-hitter as the Crusaders run-ruled the Bulldogs in five innings to salvage the split.
Belmont Abbey was led on offense by Smith with a solo home run and Kellee Branham (Lugoff, S.C.) and Kalyn Womack (King, N.C.) with two hits and two runs batted in each. Barton sophomore
AnnaKate Gilchrist (Clayton, N.C.) (2-8) suffered the setback on the mound.
Barton next travels to Duncan, S.C., to take on Converse in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m., in league action at Tyger River Park while Belmont Abbey hosts Chowan in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., as well.
