By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
The conference road hasn't been kind lately to the Barton Community College softball team as the Cougars' short trip to Hutchinson came up empty in a pair of run-rule losses at 17th ranked Hutchinson Community College 9-1 and 13-0.
The Cougars mustered just three hits in the twin bill against the conference's top rated pitching staff, aiding the troubles at the plate by committing seven defensive errors resulting in less than half of the Blue Dragons' runs being earned.
Barton drops to 17-7 in conference play and 24-17 overall while conference leading Hutchinson improves to 19-3 in league and 31-6 on the season.
Looking for home turf cures to end a four-game slide, the Cougars' next contest comes Saturday at 1:00 p.m. hosting fourth place Colby as the sophomore class will be recognized in between the pair of games. The Trojans come to Great Bend after sweeping the Cougars last Friday and earning a split with 16th ranked Butler today to join Barton in the loss column at 15-7 in league play and 26-10 overall.
Barton will then travel to Butler on Wednesday, April 19, before closing out Cougar Field April 26 hosting Dodge City, wrapping up the regular season April 29 at Northwest Kansas Technical College.