DUNCAN, S.C. – The Barton softball team (26-20) opened the delayed 2023 Conference Carolinas Championship with a 3-2 victory over fourth-seeded Emmanuel (29-20) Friday evening at Tyger River Park.
The Bulldogs, the fifth seed in the tournament, broke a scoreless tie by pushing two runs across in the top of the eighth inning for the victory. Barton sophomore designated player
Gracelyn Massey (Princeton, N.C.) hit the game-winning, two-run double in the frame.
The Lions scratched across a run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Alyssa Adams (Orange Park, Fla.) hit a sacrifice fly but the Bulldogs were able to hold on for the win.
Barton senior third baseman
Lindsey Massengill (Pine Level, N.C.) broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning before Ellee Varner (Bold Springs, Ga.) scored the first of two runs in the bottom of the frame to tie it.
Barton junior
Miranda Holmes (Godwin, N.C.) (7-7) earned the victory after going the distance and allowing two unearned runs with four strikeouts while Maddie Edwards (Lakeland, Fla.) (13-4) suffered the loss for the Lions.
In the next round of games on Saturday, Barton is scheduled to play at Noon against top-seeded King (32-20) while Emmanuel is slated to play at 2:00 p.m., against Erskine (20-19) in an elimination game.
