PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Barton baseball team (20-18, 11-10) was dealt a 23-5 loss to No. 24 UNC Pembroke (26-11, 16-5) Sunday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field in the final game of a Conference Carolinas weekend series.
The Braves scored eight runs in the first inning and never looked back in totaling a season-high in runs. UNC Pembroke's Bobby Dixon (Clayton, N.C.) drove in four runs while Garrett Littleton (Kenly, N.C.) added three hits and three RBI as the Braves also produced a season-high in hits with 25.
Barton senior second baseman
Dylan Scaranda (Galloway, N.J.) hit a two-run home run – his team-tying sixth-round tripper of the year - and finished with three hits and three runs batted in as well while sophomore outfielder
Carelle Gonzalez (Bridgeton, N.J.) scored three times in the losing effort.
On the mound, UNC Pembroke's Branden Kunz (Wake Forest, N.C.) improved to 6-1 on the season after pitching five innings and striking out seven batters while Barton sophomore
Tanner Halvorson (Eau Claire, Wis.) fell to 2-3 after being tagged with the loss.
Barton looks to bounce back on Tuesday when the Bulldogs travel to Hartsville, S.C., to take on Coker beginning at 2:00 p.m., while UNC Pembroke hosts Catawba Tuesday night at 2:00 p.m.
