GOLDSBORO, N.C. – The Barton softball team (7-7) moved back to .500 on the year with a doubleheader sweep of Anderson (10-8), 5-0 and 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Carolina Athletic Park.
Game One – Barton 5, Anderson 0
Barton senior
Kierstin Cooper (Nashville, N.C.) (5-4) earned her first shutout on the season, scatting eight hits and striking out 11 batters on her way to the win.
Three Trojan errors led to four unearned runs for the Bulldogs. Barton junior second baseman
Madison Mercer (Kenly, N.C.) and senior outfielder
Elana Griffin (Nashville, N.C.) both drove in runs while Mercer added three hits and two runs scored in the triumph.
Anderson's Katie Morris (Valley, Ala.) (4-4) also went the distance but suffered the loss despite allowing just one earned run.
Game Two – Barton 4, Anderson 3
The Bulldogs rallied from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to sweep the Trojans. Barton scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead for good with Mercer driving in the game-winning run.
Barton freshman
Ronnetta Gurley (Cove City, N.C.) (2-1) earned the win after entering in relief with just one out in the first inning and pitching the rest of the way. Gurley allowed just one earned run.
Anderson's Carson Hobbs (Nicholson, Ga.) fell to 3-2 after taking the loss. The Trojans again were undone by their defense, committing three errors and allowing three unearned runs.
Barton hosts Wingate in a doubleheader next Saturday, March 1, at 1:00 p.m., while Anderson hosts Claflin on Tuesday beginning at 1:00 p.m.
