WILSON, N.C. – The Barton softball team (13-11, 1-3) split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with No. 7 Francis Marion (21-3, 3-1) Wednesday afternoon at Jeffries Field. The Patriots won the first contest by a 5-4 score while the Bulldogs run-ruled Francis Marion in the nightcap in five innings, 10-2.
The Bulldogs and Patriots have completed their home-and-home series already this season while Barton snapped Francis Marion's 17-game winning streak in the process.
Game One – Francis Marion 5, Barton 4
The Patriots' Madalyn White (Currie, N.C.) finished three-for-three with a pair of runs scored and an RBI as Francis Marion took advantage of a couple of Bulldogs' errors to pull out the victory in the first contest.
Barton junior second baseman
Madison Mercer (Kenly, N.C.) scored twice and senior first baseman
Gracelyn Massey (Princeton, N.C.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut the lead to one but Francis Marion's Alyssa Poston (Hartsville, N.C.) was able to go the distance and pick up the victory.
Poston improved to 12-1 on the year after allowing just two earned runs while striking out three batters. Barton senior
Kierstin Cooper (Nashville, N.C.) (7-7) suffered the loss.
Game Two – Barton 10, Francis Marion 2 (five innings)
The Bulldogs snapped the Patriots long winning streak after scoring at least one run in every inning highlighted by senior third baseman
Mary Lindsey Harris (Robersonville, N.C.) two hits and two RBI.
Barton was aided by three Patriots' errors which led to four unearned runs. Barton sophomore
Ali Bunch (Wilmington, N.C.) (2-1) allowed just one earned run in the complete game win while Francis Marion's Aliyah Gibson (Clayton, N.C.) (0-1) took the loss.
Barton remains at home to take on UNC Pembroke on Saturday in a league doubleheader beginning at Noon while Francis Marion travels to Murfreesboro, N.C., to face Chowan on Saturday, March 15, starting at Noon.
