WILSON, N.C. – The Barton softball team (25-7, 12-5) forced a split with Francis Marion (24-15, 10-6) in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Jeffries Field. The Patriots won the first contest by a 10-2 score while the Bulldogs shut out Francis Marion in the nightcap, 1-0.
Game One – Francis Marion 10, Barton 2
The Patriots broke a one-all tie with a four-run fifth inning to take control en route to the victory. The Patriots' Danielle Karacson (Bartow, Fla.) came through with the game-winning RBI double in the frame and finished with three hits, a home run and three RBI to lead the visitors.
Barton junior second baseman
Emily Bell (Bunn, N.C.) and junior first baseman
AnnaKate Gilchrist (Clayton, N.C.) hit solo home runs for the Bulldogs despite the loss.
On the mound, Francis Marion's Rachel Davis (Mechanicsville, Va.) (9-4) went the distance to earn the win while sophomore
Rilee Jones (Virginia Beach, Va.) fell to 7-5 after suffering the setback.
Game Two – Barton 1, Francis Marion 0
Bell drove in the game-winning run with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of seventh inning – scoring senior shortstop
Mikayla Rose (Beaufort, N.C.) – with two outs to help the Bulldogs salvage the split.
Barton freshman
Miranda Holmes (Clayton, N.C.) improved to 10-2 on the year with the complete game shutout, her first on the year. Holmes threw a two-hitter while striking out nine batters while Francis Marion's Casey Kurent (Auburndale, Fla.) fell to 9-4 after taking the loss.
Barton will next travel to Pembroke, N.C., to take on UNC Pembroke on Tuesday, April 19, at 3:00 p.m., in a league doubleheader while Francis Marion hosts UNC Pembroke Thursday at 4:00 p.m.
