BANNER ELK, N.C. – The Barton softball team (14-14, 5-3) split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with Lees-McRae (9-15, 4-4) Sunday afternoon at Bobcats Field. The Bulldogs won the first contest by a 3-1 score while Lees-McRae prevailed in the nightcap, 8-2.
Game One – Barton 3, Lees-McRae 1
Barton senior
Miranda Holmes (Godwin, N.C.) improved to 11-5 on the season with her 11th complete game of the year. Holmes allowed just three hits while striking out eight batters in the victory.
The Bulldogs' lone scoring came in the sixth inning courtesy of a three-run home run from junior designated hitter
Gracelyn Massey (Princeton, N.C.). Massey leads the team in home runs (seven) and RBI (32) so far this spring. Lees-McRae's Lonna Addison (Salisbury, N.C.) (7-10) suffered the loss despite striking out 10 batters.
Game Two – Lees-McRae 8, Barton 2
The Bobcats' Lauren Ritchie (China Grove, N.C.) hit a three-run home run as part of a five-run fourth frame as Lees-McRae rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring the final eight runs to help the home team salvage the split.
Massey and senior outfielder
Kandyce Condrey (High Point, N.C.) had RBI doubles in the first inning but the Bulldogs were held off the board the rest of the way.
Lees-McRae's Logan Zephir (Troy, N.C.) (2-2) earned the complete game victory after allowing just two unearned runs while Barton freshman
Kerrigan Wonder (Omaha, Neb.) (0-5) was tagged with the defeat.
Barton returns home to take on UNC Pembroke in a league doubleheader on Wednesday beginning at 2:00 p.m., while Lees-McRae faces Converse in a conference doubleheader Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., in Spartanburg, S.C.
