BELMONT, N.C. – The Barton baseball team (12-2, 1-2), ranked No. 18 in NCAA Division II, split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with Belmont Abbey (7-6, 4-2) Saturday at Abbey Yard. Barton won the first game by a convincing 19-1 score while Belmont Abbey salvaged the split in the nightcap, 13-3.
Game One – Barton 19, Belmont Abbey 1
Barton junior outfielder
Evan Harding (Clayton, N.C.) drove in five runs while the Bulldogs used a nine-run second frame to put the game away early.
Barton junior shortstop
Luis Sauri (Buena, N.J.) finished with four RBI as well and Harding and Sauri both came through with bases-clearing doubles in the second inning as the Bulldogs led by a 19-0 score just four innings into the contest.
Barton senior
Tanner Halvorson (Eau Claire, Wisc.) improved to 3-0 on the year after earning the victory on the mound. Halvorson pitched five scoreless innings to go along with eight strikeouts and pushed his victory streak to 14 dating back to last season. Belmont Abbey's Spencer Cipro (Springfield, Mass.) (2-1) suffered the loss.
Game Two – Belmont Abbey 13, Barton 3
The Crusaders' Carter DuHaime (Monroe, N.C.) hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning and Justin Herrera (Stratford, Conn.) added a solo round-tripper as Belmont Abbey managed to split the doubleheader. DuHaime finished with four runs batted in to lead the Crusaders' offensively.
Harding and Sauri drove in runs for the Bulldogs but senior
Matt Rivers (Kernersville, N.C.) (1-1) took the loss for the visitors. Belmont Abbey's Alex Sniffen (Wilmington, N.C.) (3-0) was credited with the victory.
Barton returns home to host Bridgeport (Conn.) on Tuesday at Nixon Field beginning at 2:00 p.m., while Belmont Abbey travels to Wingate, N.C., to take on Wingate on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
