BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Barton softball team (22-4, 9-2) split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with King (21-11, 5-3) Friday afternoon at the Tornado complex. King run-ruled Barton in the first contest, 10-1, in five innings while the Bulldogs salvaged the split with a 4-2 victory in the nightcap.
Game One – King 10, Barton 1 (five innings)
The Tornado's Erin Foster (Morristown, Tenn.) led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run while Carly Turner (Springfield, Ohio) added a three-run round-tripper in the bottom of the second as King scored early and often on its way to the easy win.
Barton senior catcher
McCrae Knapp (Hertford, N.C.) prevented the Bulldogs from being shutout by driving in a run in the second frame.
Turner improved to 4-1 on the season after striking out six batters in the complete game victory while sophomore
Rilee Jones (Virginia Beach, Va.) (5-4) was tagged with the loss for Barton.
Game Two – Barton 4, King 2
Barton junior third baseman
Lindsey Massengill (Pine Level, N.C.) scored three of the Bulldogs' four runs – including two on wild pitches – while junior first baseman
Sloane Correa (Greenville, N.C.) added three hits and broke a two-all tie with the game-winning RBI single in the fifth inning as the Bulldogs salvaged the split.
King's Lilly Million (Greeneville, Tenn.) hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning in the losing effort for the home team.
Barton freshman
Miranda Holmes (Godwin, N.C.) (9-0) stayed perfect on the season with the complete game win. Holmes struck out seven batters while King's Nikole Counts (Clintwood, Va.) fell to 9-5 after taking the loss.
Barton remains on the road to take on Lees-McRae on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at Noon in Banner Elk, N.C., in league action while King hosts Chowan Saturday at Noon as well.
