ROYSTON, Ga. – The Barton baseball team (2-5, 1-2) split a Conference Carolinas doubleheader with Emmanuel (4-6, 2-4) Saturday afternoon at Tommy Carey Field. The Lions doubled up the Bulldogs, 12-6, in the first contest while Barton salvaged the split in the nightcap, 7-5.
Game One – Emmanuel 12, Barton 6 (seven innings)
The Lions exploded with 10 runs in the final two innings to rally from a 6-2 deficit to take the victory.
Emmanuel's Nick Madrigal (San Jose, Calif.) and Alex Espinoza (Grayson, Ga.) both drove in three runs and the Lions took advantage of five Bulldog errors which led to five unearned runs for the home team in the victory.
Barton senior third baseman
Gregory Melo (New York, N.Y.) hit a three-run home run in the losing effort.
On the mound, Emmanuel's Luke Hoppe (Gainesville, Ga.) (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory. Barton graduate student
Nathan Waldridge (Louisville, Ky.) (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
Game Two – Barton 7, Emmanuel 5
Barton sophomore outfielder
Vincent Santostefano (Chapin, S.C.) hit a solo home run and drove in three runs and junior outfielder
Isaiah White (Chicago, Ill.) broke a five-all tie with the game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning in the win.
Barton sophomore
Braeden Rodgers (Advance, N.C.) (1-0) earned the win in relief and senior
Layton Dupree (Tarboro, N.C.) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first save of the year as the Bulldogs rallied from a 4-0 deficit to pull out the win.
Emmanuel's Conor Golterman (Newnan, Ga.) and Reece Kingeter (Powder Springs, Ga.) both hit solo home runs but Zach Evans (Stockbridge, Ga.) (0-1) suffered the loss.
Barton returns home to host Young Harris in a Conference Carolinas weekend series opener at Nixon Field on Friday beginning at 2:00 p.m.
