WILSON, N.C. – The Barton baseball team (14-7, 8-2) made it seven wins in a row with a 20-5 victory over Belmont Abbey (12-8, 6-4) Friday afternoon in a Conference Carolinas contest at Nixon Field.
Barton sophomore outfielder
Gavin Gilmore (Eastampton, N.J.) hit a grand slam as part of an eight-run fifth inning to break the contest open while senior first baseman
Chase Waddell (Lucama, N.C.) added four hits and four RBI as the Bulldogs remained tied with Mount Olive at the top of the league standings.
The Bulldogs reached season-highs in both hits (20) and runs scored (20) while graduate student
A.J. Campbell (Absecon, N.J.) improved to 4-1 on the season after limiting the Crusaders to just two runs over seven innings of work while striking out five batters.
Barton scored at least two runs in five of the eight innings in the triumph.
Belmont Abbey's Michael Fattore (Bridgewater, N.J.) and Jake Bidoglio (Belmont, N.C.) both hit home runs for the visitors despite the loss. Meanwhile, Drew Stegura (Lutz, Fla.) (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season for the Crusaders.
Barton and Belmont Abbey wrap up the conference weekend series with a doubleheader at Nixon Field beginning at 11:00 a.m.
