WILSON, N.C. – The Barton baseball team (7-18) fell to Lenoir-Rhyne (22-5-1) by a 14-9 score Tuesday afternoon at Nixon Field.
The Bears' Drew Beard (Charlotte, N.C.) and Matt Procopio (Horseheads, N.Y.) both finished with a pair of hits and three runs batted in as the visitors jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second inning and held off a mid-game rally by the Bulldogs to prevail.
The Bulldogs cut the margin to 9-8 after five innings of play thanks to a four-run fifth frame but the Bears eventually pulled away.
Barton sophomore shortstop
Tyler Hughesman (Mooresville, N.C.) finished with three hits and three runs batted in including a two-run double and junior second baseman
Myles Odom (Pleasant Garden, N.C.) added four hits in the losing effort.
Lenoir-Rhyne's Sylas Boris (Greensboro, N.C.) added a solo home run, Luke Stewart (College Station, Texas) (2-1) earned the win in relief and Michael Burnley (Sicklerville, N.J.) pitched the final three innings to register the save.
Barton sophomore
Braeden Rodgers (Advance, N.C.) (2-4) was tagged with the loss.
Barton returns to Conference Carolinas play this Friday when the Bulldogs travel to Belmont, N.C., to Belmont Abbey starting at 5:00 p.m.
Lenoir-Rhyne, meanwhile, travels to Wise, Va., to take on UVA Wise on Friday starting at 5:00 p.m., as well.
