WILSON, N.C. – The Barton softball team (8-8) split a non-league regional doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Jeffries Field with Wingate (8-10). Wingate prevailed in the first contest by a 9-4 score while the home team salvaged the split after holding on for a 6-5 win in the nightcap.
Game One – Wingate 9, Barton 4
Wingate's Lily Huneycutt (Stanfield, N.C.) and Raelynn Kramer (Havelock, N.C.) both hit solo home runs and Hali Scott (Shoals, N.C.) drove in three runs as the visitors scored in all but one inning to pull away for the win.
Barton was led by junior outfielder
Makenzie Cyzick (Dayton, Va.) with an RBI triple while senior
Kierstin Cooper (Nashville, N.C.) (5-5) suffered the loss. Wingate's Jillian Thomas (Wingate, N.C.) (4-4) earned the victory and Raleigh Dudley (Rustburg, Va.) pitched the final three innings to earn the save.
Game Two – Barton 6, Wingate 5
Cyzick and freshman pitcher
Ronnetta Gurley (Cove City, N.C.) both drove in two runs for Barton, who jumped out to a 6-0 advantage and held off a furious rally by Wingate to salvage the split.
The visitors scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to cut the margin to one run highlighted by a two-run home run from Savanna Brooks (Wingate, N.C.) but Cooper struck out the final batter to earn the save.
Gurley, who finished with three hits in the contest, improved to 3-1 on the year after earning the win while Wingate's Huneycutt (2-3) was tagged with the loss.
Barton opens Conference Carolinas play on Thursday, March 6, when the Bulldogs travel to Francis Marion for a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m., in Florence, S.C.
