By BRANDON SMITH
Barton Sports Info
Hosting the first leg of a four-game non-conference series, the Barton Community College baseball team would strand 12-runners in a 7-3 loss to Coffeyville Community College before bouncing back with a strong start in game two, in salvaging a 9-4 doubleheader split at Lawson-Biggs Field on Thursday afternoon.
Wrapping up their five game homestand, the Cougars move to 31-15 overall after the split while the Red Ravens sit at 20-25 on the season. The teams will wrap up the four-game series Saturday afternoon as the team's swap locations to Coffeyville's Walter Johnson Park for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch doubleheader.
Game 1 Recap (L 7-3)
Coming up empty with the bases loaded and no-out in the bottom of the first, Barton loaded the bases backup with one-out in the second inning, but Owen Clyne's drawn walk would be all the Cougars could mustar with Red Raven starter Ricardo Hernandez limiting the damage with a strikeout and flyout holding Barton to a 1-0 lead.
Hank Orr's first of his two hit day gifted Barton a 2-0 lead in the third creating a two-out double driving in Grant Nottlemann's leadoff single from second.
Coffeyville drew even at 2-2, in the top of the fourth with a pair of singles scoring off a double-steal attempt with the third single of inning and Barton error tacked on scoring the tying run.
After being sent down in order in the fourth, Cesar Gomez first of his two hit game gifted the Cougars their final lead lacing a two-out RBI triple to right field scoring Kyler Horsman's leadoff single for a 3-2 lead.
The Red Ravens grasped their first and lone lead needed in the sixth. Back-to-back leadoff walks followed by a run producing single and RBI fielder's choice pushed Coffeyville out front 4-3. The second single of the frame added to the lead with Barton's second error of the game scoring another and fifth run crossing on a groundout.
Searching for one final rally attempt in the ninth, Nottlemann's one-out walk, Gomez two-out hit-by-pitch ensued by Orr's single loaded the bases, but the big hit never came leaving the bases loaded for a third time and stranding 12 in the loss.
Starter Reece Hemmerling (6-3) suffered the loss working five-plus innings, giving up six runs, with just four earned while walking four and striking out four.
Preston Golden tossed the final two innings out of the bullpen permitting one run off one hit and striking out one.
Game 2 Recap (W 9-4)
Unable to capitalize on bases loaded chances in the opener, Barton delivered in the nightcap as Orr's drawn walk with two-outs loaded the bases creating Gomez two-RBI double scoring back-to-back leadoff Robby Bolin and Owen Clyne singles.
Having the lead cut in half in the top of the second, the Cougars answered in the second loading the bases with no-outs off an Owen Bailey leadoff single, Cooper Tabor hit-by-pitch and Bolin walk. Already extending his hitting streak to 16-straight games, Clyne stretched the lead back to two with his second single while Horsman tacked on two runs with a two-run double with a wild pitch plating a fourth and Wyatt Yetter RBI single capping the five-run frame and 7-1 lead.
Coffeyville's Nathan Cruz drew the Red Ravens back within 7-4 in the top of the fifth scoring a pair on his three driven in with a single in the third and fifth inning RBI double.
Hitless in his first three trips to the plate, Jaron Cotton's one-out double in the bottom of the sixth sparked a two-run inning, scoring on a Coffeyville error with Gomez single driving in his third run of the game plating Horsman's single.
Starting pitcher Aidan Sowers (5-2) collected the victory with four innings allowing four runs, with three earned, scattering five hits, walking three and striking out five.
Earning his first save of the season by going the final three innings, Anthony Treto surrendered just two hits, walking one and fanning four to salvage the doubleheader split.