WILSON, N.C. – Barton (23-21, 13-13) and its rival Mount Olive (27-16, 14-12) split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader Saturday at Nixon Field. The Trojans won the first contest, 9-7, while the Bulldogs were able to salvage the split with an 8-4 triumph in the nightcap.
Game One – Mount Olive 9, Barton 7
Clinging to a 1-0 advantage, the Trojans took control with a five-run fourth inning and were able to hold off a late Bulldogs' rally to take the win. Mount Olive was led by Alden Cottle (Ahoskie, N.C.) with three hits and a pair of runs batted in while the visitors scored four unearned runs on a pair of Bulldogs' errors.
Barton freshman third baseman
Jared Beebe (Atco, N.J.) finished with three hits and three runs batted in despite the loss.
Mount Olive's Irwin Caleb (Marble, N.C.) improved to 5-3 on the season after earning the win while Blake Gipson (Pikeville, N.C.) registered his first save on the year after getting the final out with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning. Barton senior
Alex Hart (Raleigh, N.C.) fell to 7-3 on the season after taking the loss.
Game Two – Barton 8, Mount Olive 4 (seven innings)
Beebe added three more runs batted in and the Bulldogs took the lead for good with a five-run fourth inning highlighted by Beebe's two-run double and the game-winning RBI single from freshman catcher
Chase Waddell (Wilson, N.C.).
Mount Olive lost despite solo home runs from Vito Patierno (Wake Forest, N.C.) and Cooper George (Bluffton, S.C).
Barton senior
Jared Davis (Poquoson, Va.) (5-4) earned the win after pitching his second complete game of the year. Davis allowed three earned runs and struck out three batters. Mount Olive's Joe Barberio (Lancaster, N.Y.) fell to 3-6 after taking the loss.
Barton and Mount Olive wrap up the league weekend series with a single game Sunday at 1:00 p.m., on the Bulldogs' home turf.
