SALISBURY, N.C. – The Barton softball team (22-28) ended the regular season with a doubleheader split against Catawba (24-23) Sunday afternoon at Whitley Field.
The Indians run-ruled the Bulldogs in the first contest, 9-0, while the Bulldogs won the nightcap by a 9-3 score to salvage the split.
Game One – Catawba 9, Barton 0 (five innings)
The Indians' Laney Ruscoe (Lexington, N.C.) improved to 3-2 on the year after throwing a two-hit shutout while striking out five batters.
Catawba was led offensive by Alexis Monroe's (Cumming, Ga.) two-run home run and Jordan McCorkle's (Mount Holly, N.C.) two-run double. Barton's
Erica Sturgill (Williamston, N.C.) fell to 0-2 after taking the loss.
Game Two – Barton 9, Catawba 3
Barton put the game away early thanks to a six-run first inning capped off by a two-run home run courtesy of junior outfielder
Makenzie Burroughs (Morehead City, N.C.). A triple in the first contest gave Burroughs the school single-season record (10) as well.
Senior designated player
Elana Griffin (Nashville, N.C.) and senior second baseman
Madison Mercer (Wilson, N.C.) both drove in a pair of runs in addition to two hits while sophomore
Emily Bobo (Mount Ephraim, N.J.) (10-12) earned the complete game victory.
For Catawba, Brianna Gallagher (Liberty, N.C.) hit a home run but Ellie Southern (East Bend, N.C.) (0-1) took the loss.
Barton will be the No. 10 seed in the 2026 Conference Carolinas Championship and will face seventh-seeded and rival Mount Olive (27-23) on Thursday, April 23, in a single-game elimination play-in game at Tyger River Park in Duncan, S.C.
Catawba, meanwhile, travels to Hartsville, S.C., to take on Coker in a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m., next Saturday, April 25.
