Beginning Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field with a 13–5 run-rule victory, the Barton Community College softball team celebrated a milestone win before watching a four-run lead disappear in a 6–5 setback to Northeastern Junior College in the nightcap.
The opener marked career victory No. 100 for fourth-year Head Coach Carson DuBose, powered by an offensive surge that saw the Cougars score in four of five at-bats and pile up eight runs over the final two innings. But in game two, a five-run sixth by the Plainswomen, capped by Brodie Wilcoxen's three-run blast, flipped the script and forced Barton to settle for the split.
The split moves Barton to 6-8 overall while Northeastern departs Great Bend at 4-8. The Cougars close their three-date homestand Monday hosting Division II No. 18 Cowley College at 1:00 p.m. before opening conference play Wednesday at Fort Hays Tech Northwest.
Offensively, three Cougars produced four hits apiece across the twinbill as Barton collected 23 total hits. Carly Erpelding drove in four runs on the day, while Morgan Thatcher matched that total in RBI behind her first collegiate triple and later a double. Peyton McCormick and Karter Alvord each added a pair of runs driven in. Ellie Crawford picked up her first collegiate pitching victory in relief, and Shaylee Spears recorded her first career hit with a fourth-inning double in game two.
Game One – Barton 13, Northeastern 5 (5 innings)Laney Wood ignited the offense from the top of the lineup with a pair of hits, helping Barton plate three in the opening frame capitalizing on a Northeastern miscue and an RBI double by McCormick.
The Plainswomen answered with four runs in the second on two walks, an RBI single by Reina Roberts, and a Barton error to chase starter Charley Wheeler. Crawford entered in relief, induced a groundout that allowed one inherited runner to score, then settled in by striking out three over her 3.2 innings of work while scattering just two hits.
With Crawford steady in the circle, the Cougar offense found its rhythm, erupting for ten runs over the final three innings.
Erpelding's leadoff double in the third following Hailey Horton's single helped produce two runs, with McCormick delivering an RBI single and Alvord driving in another on a groundout.
A four-run fourth expanded the margin as Kahli Fields worked a leadoff walk, Wood reached again, and back-to-back two-RBI doubles from Mollie Steiner and Erpelding pushed the lead to 9-4.
After Northeastern scratched across a fifth-inning run on consecutive doubles by Kelsi Jurczewsky and Addison Steele, Barton quickly closed the door. Wood was hit by a pitch and Steiner walked to set the stage for Erpelding and Horton RBI singles. Following McCormick's third hit to load the bases and Thatcher's sacrifice fly, Alvord roped a double deep down the right-field line to bring home the run-rule clincher in walk-off fashion.
Crawford earned her first collegiate victory, while Northeastern's Reyes absorbed the loss allowing six earned runs in three innings.
Game Two – Northeastern 6, Barton 5Barton struck first in the nightcap as Wood reached on an error and later scored on Erpelding's sacrifice fly.
Northeastern responded in the second, using a Marisa Reyes single and America Griffin's RBI double to even the contest.
The Cougars appeared to seize control in the third. Steiner drew a walk, Horton reached, and McCormick's pressure forced an error that plated a run. One batter later, Thatcher delivered a towering triple to right-center, clearing the bases and stretching the advantage to 4-1.
Spears' leadoff double in the fourth marked her first collegiate hit, and moments later she alertly raced home on Wood's stolen-base attempt to extend the lead to 5-1.
Barton carried that four-run cushion into the sixth before Northeastern mounted its decisive rally. A walk and two hits opened the frame, followed by an infield error that allowed another run to score. Wilcoxen then provided the decisive swing, launching a three-run home run to put the Plainswomen in front 6-5.
The Cougars threatened late. Erpelding worked a two-out walk in the sixth but was stranded. In the seventh, McCormick led off with a hit and Thatcher reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt. An intentional walk to Alvord loaded the bases with one out.
But Northeastern's defense preserved the comeback. Mikeayla Llamas, who had earlier robbed Wood at the fence, made a running grab in the gap on Boone's fly ball and fired a strike home to cut down the tying run. A groundout back to the circle sealed the split.
Wheeler took the loss, slipping to 4-3, while Maddie Cline earned the victory in relief.