WILSON, N.C. – The Barton softball team (22-20, 11-9) swept a Conference Carolinas doubleheader from Chowan (6-29, 2-18), 8-0 and 9-7, Saturday afternoon at Jeffries Field.
Game One – Barton 8, Chowan 0 (six innings)
Barton senior
Miranda Holmes (Godwin, N.C.) improved to 16-8 on the year after throwing her ninth shutout as the Bulldogs run-ruled the Hawks in six innings. Holmes scattered four hits while striking out five batters in the win.
Barton graduate student infielder
Shelby Shepherd (Colorado Springs, Colo.) finished with three hits and three runs batted in including the walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Barton sophomore shortstop
MacKenzie Taylor (Mebane, N.C.) added two hits and two RBI for the home team.
Chowan's Alex Bishop (Metamora, Ill.) fell to 2-10 after taking the loss.
Game Two – Barton 9, Chowan 7
Taylor hit a bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the second inning and finished with five RBI as the Bulldogs were able to outlast the Hawks and complete the sweep.
With the score tied at seven, the Bulldogs plated two runs in their half of the fifth frame to take the lead for good with Barton freshman pinch runner
Kasey Jones (Mount Olive, N.C.) scoring the game-winning run off an errant throw. Holmes (17-8) earned the win again after throwing three scoreless innings and striking out six batters. Holmes leads the conference with a school-record 254 strikeouts.
Chowan's Elizabeth Ingle (Stanfield, N.C.) hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning but Bishop (2-11) once again was tagged with the loss.
Barton remains at home to take on Francis Marion in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m., while Chowan faces Erskine in Due West, S.C., on Friday in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
