WILSON, N.C. – The Barton baseball team (10-7) rallied to beat Wingate (5-9), 15-11, Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference regional contest at Nixon Field.
Barton junior third baseman
Yariel Diaz (Fort Myers, Fla.) hit a three-run home run and drove in four runs as the home team overcame an eight-run fourth inning by Wingate and an 11-8 deficit to beat the visitors for the second time in a week.
Barton senior catcher
Chase Waddell (Lucama, N.C.) came through with the game-winning, two-run single in the bottom of the fifth inning to give home squad a 12-11 advantage and the lead for good.
Waddell and graduate student second baseman
Mason Staz (Olin, N.C.) both finished with three and three RBI for Barton, who scored the final seven runs of the contest.
Barton junior
Nick Napolitano (North Massapequa, N.Y.) (1-0) earned the victory after throwing the final five innings and shutting out Wingate while striking out three batters.
For Wingate, Sean Sullivan (Sunrise, Fla.) hit two home runs in the fourth inning while Cal Riehl (Davidson, N.C.) (0-2) suffered the loss in relief.
Barton returns to Conference Carolinas play on Saturday, March 1, when the Bulldogs travel to Murfreesboro, N.C., in a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m., while Wingate hosts Tusculum on Friday at 4:00 p.m.
