DUNCAN, S.C. – The Barton softball team (27-22) split its two games on Saturday to advance to the third day of the 2025 Conference Carolinas Championships at Tyger River Park. The Bulldogs fell to Emmanuel in eight innings by an 5-3 score before prevailing over UNC Pembroke, 6-4, later in the night.
Emmanuel 5, Barton 3 (eight innings)
The Lions (23-27) broke through with a four-run eighth inning highlighted by a two-run home run courtesy of Kelsey Lester (Smiths Station, Ala.) as Emmanuel remained in the winner's bracket of the tournament.
Barton freshman third baseman
Ronnetta Gurley (Cove City, N.C.) forced extra innings with a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning – her first collegiate home run – while sophomore outfielder
Makenzie Burroughs (Morehead City, N.C.) added a two-run in the eighth frame despite the loss.
Emmanuel's Cassidy Jenkins (Augusta, Ga.) (11-9) earned the win in relief while Barton freshman
Emily Bobo (Mount Ephraim, N.J.) (6-5) suffered the loss.
Barton 6, UNC Pembroke 4
Gurley drove in two more runs while senior designated player
Gracelyn Massey (Princeton, N.C.) hit the game-winning, two-run double to break a three-all tie in the sixth frame as the Bulldogs survived to the third day of competition. In addition, Massey became the school's all-time leader in runs batted in (132).
Barton senior
Kierstin Cooper (Nashville, N.C.) improved to 13-11 on the season after earning the victory in relief while UNC Pembroke's Summer Bullard (Pembroke, N.C.) (12-10) was tagged with the loss. The Braves ended the season with a record of 27-25.
The Braves were led by Kaitlynn Hunt (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) with a pair of hits and an RBI in the setback.
Barton remains in the elimination round of the league tournament bracket and will face second-ranked Francis Marion (45-2) on Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:30 p.m.
