PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Barton baseball team (29-9, 12-9), ranked No. 23 in NCAA Division II, split a key Conference Carolinas doubleheader with UNC Pembroke (28-10, 12-9) Saturday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field. The Braves prevailed in the first contest, 7-1, but the Bulldogs won the nightcap by an 8-2 margin.
Game One – UNC Pembroke 7, Barton 1 (seven innings)
The Braves' Joey Rezek (Colfax, N.C.) hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning while Kody O'Connor (Lebanon, Ohio) added a two-run single in the fourth frame to lead UNC Pembroke to the win.
The Braves' Jonathon Jacobs (Lumberton, N.C.) improved to 5-0 after notching the complete game victory. Jacobs allowed one unearned run to go along with three strikeouts in the win.
Barton junior outfielder
Evan Harding (Clayton, N.C.) drove in the Bulldogs' lone run in the sixth inning while senior
Tanner Halvorson (Eau Claire, Wis.) fell to 7-2 after taking the loss.
Game Two – Barton 8, UNC Pembroke 2
Halvorson, playing designated hitter, bounced back at the plate with a pair of hits and three runs batted in including a two-run double in the fourth frame as the Bulldogs salvaged the split.
Barton senior
Matt Rivers (Kernersville, N.C.) improved to 4-2 on the season after allowing just one earned run and coming within out of a complete game.
Rezek drove in another run but Kasen McCawley (Haw River, N.C.) fell to 1-2 on the year after suffering the loss.
Barton returns home to face rival Mount Olive in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Saturday beginning at Noon while UNC Pembroke faces Wingate on the road on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m., in Wingate, N.C.
