HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Barton softball team (4-6) split a non-conference regional doubleheader with Coker (6-6) Tuesday afternoon at Saleeby-Stokes Field. The Cobras prevailed in the first contest by a 4-1 score while Barton salvaged the split with a 5-3 win in the nightcap.
Game One – Coker 4, Barton 1
The Cobras' Madie Andrews (Darlington, S.C.) (4-2) earned the complete game victory after allowing just one run while striking out five batters.
Meanwhile, Coker's Carter Freeman (Snellville, Ga.) broke a one-all tie with what proved to be the game-winning RBI single in the fourth frame.
Barton senior
Kierstin Cooper (Nashville, N.C.) (3-3) was tagged with the loss while senior outfielder
Elana Griffin (Nashville, N.C.) drove in the team's lone run with an RBI single in the top of the second inning.
Game Two – Barton 5, Coker 3
Griffin's RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the top of the sixth inning was part of a three-run frame as the Bulldogs rallied from a 2-0 deficit to split the doubleheader.
Cooper (4-3) improved to 4-3 on the going the distance and striking out five batters while Coker's Cheyenne Palmer (Sellersburg, Ind.) (1-1) took the loss. Andrews notched a two-run double in the first inning despite the loss.
Barton returns home to take on Fairmont State on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at Noon while Coker hosts USC Beaufort on Sunday in a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
