GOLDSBORO, N.C. – The Barton softball team (2-0) opened the 2026 season with a doubleheader sweep of Virginia Union (0-2), 13-0 and 11-2, Sunday afternoon at the Carolina Athletic Park.
Both contests were five-inning run-rules while Bulldogs' mentor
Courtlynn Cooney earned her first win as Barton Head Coach.
Game One – Barton 13, Virginia Union 0 (five innings)
Barton junior outfielder
Makenzie Burroughs (Morehead City, N.C.) went four-for-four with two triples, a home run and four runs batted in to lead the Bulldogs to the season-opening win.
Barton used a seven-run third inning to break the contest open while freshman
Chaleigh Currin (Stem, N.C.) (1-0) earned the victory after pitching two innings of relief to go along with five strikeouts.
Virginia Union's Elisia Gonzalez-Pettis (Chesterfield, Va.) (0-1) suffered the loss.
Game Two – Barton 11, Virginia State 2 (five innings)
Burroughs had two more triples and drove in three more runs as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-0 lead after two innings of play to complete the sweep of the Panthers.
Barton senior second baseman
Madison Mercer (Wilson, N.C.) added two hits and two RBI while freshman
Molly McGuire (New Bern, N.C.) (1-0) earned the victory in relief.
The Panthers' Skylar Ackerman (Hampton, Va.) (0-1) was tagged with the defeat.
Barton hits the road to take on Wingate in a doubleheader on Wednesday, February 11, beginning at 2:00 p.m., in Wingate, N.C.
Meanwhile, Virginia Union takes on Clark Atlanta (10:00 a.m.), Benedict (12:15 p.m.) and Albany State (4:00 p.m.) on Saturday, February 14, in the Leonard Moody Invitational in Covington, Ga.
