GASTONIA, N.C. – The Barton baseball team (30-19) saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end with a 3-0 shutout loss to No. 19 UNC Pembroke (38-15) Friday evening at the 2023 Conference Carolinas Championship at CaroMont Health Park.
The Bulldogs, the second seed in the tournament, will face sixth-seeded Francis Marion (27-24) in an elimination game Saturday at 3:00 p.m., while the Braves will face the winner at 7:00 p.m.
UNC Pembroke's Jonathon Jacobs (Lumberton, N.C.) and Luke Barrow (Oak Ridge, N.C.) combined on a five-hit shutout. Jacobs improved to 8-3 on the season after throwing six shutout innings to go along with eight strikeouts while Barrow pitched the final three innings for his third save of the season.
The Braves scored all three runs in the fourth frame while Kody O'Connor (Lebanon, Ohio) opened the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly. UNC Pembroke's Trent Harris (Raleigh, N.C.) finished with a pair of hits and drove in a run to lead the Braves.
Barton senior
Connor Patterson (Randleman, N.C.) (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season. Junior designated hitter
Tanner Halvorson (Eau Claire, Wis.) had a pair of hits in the losing effort for the Bulldogs. Barton junior
Patrick Groark (Land O'Lakes, Fla.) held UNC Pembroke scoreless in four and two-third innings of work in relief while striking out three batters despite the loss.
