PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Barton softball team (21-27, 10-18) lost both games of a Conference Carolinas doubleheader to UNC Pembroke (33-17, 20-8), 9-1 and 10-2, Saturday afternoon at Willougby Field.
Game One – UNC Pembroke 9, Barton 1 (six innings)
The Braves' Kaitlynn Hunt (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) hit a two-run home run while Summer Bullard (Pembroke, N.C.) improved to 17-8 on the season after allowing just one run in the complete game victory.
UNC Pembroke, holding a 1-0 advantage after four innings of work, broke the contest open with four runs in each of the fifth and sixth frames to run-rule the Bulldogs.
Barton senior second baseman
Madison Mercer (Wilson, N.C.) hit a solo home run but sophomore
Emily Bobo (Mount Ephraim, N.J.) (9-12) was tagged with the loss.
Game Two – UNC Pembroke 10, Barton 2 (five innings)
The Braves' Maggie Cunnigham (Indiana, Pa.) went three-for-three with three runs batted in to lead UNC Pembroke to a second-straight run-rule affair.
Barton junior outfielder
Makenzie Burroughs (Morehead City, N.C.) had an RBI double in the first frame while freshman
Chaleigh Currin (Stem, N.C.) (2-3) was tagged with the loss.
At least six Braves totaled two or home hits while Madison Davis (Temecula, Calif.) (2-0) earned the victory in relief.
Barton hits the road to take on Catawba in the regular season finale on Sunday afternoon in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m., in Salisbury, N.C.
UNC Pembroke and Barton both earned trips to the 2026 Conference Carolinas Championship and will compete in the play-in games on Thursday, April 23, at Tyger River Park in Duncan, S.C.
