The No. 25 Barton Community College baseball team opened its three-game road set Friday afternoon with a 10-7 victory over Kansas City Kansas Community College at the KCKCC Baseball Complex in Kansas City, Kansas.
The Cougars used a three-run seventh and a five-run eighth inning to flip a one-run deficit into breathing room, collecting 12 hits and drawing six walks in the process. Barton scored in five different innings, with Jaxon Case driving in four runs and Carter Helm adding three RBIs.
With the victory, the Cougars improve to 12-2 on the season for its third straight win, while the Blue Devils fall to 5-7. Barton will look for a series victory Saturday afternoon as the teams conclude the three-game set with a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader.
Kyle Walker and Kyler Horsman each recorded two hit performances, while Horsman scored three times. Case delivered the biggest swing late, ripping a two-run double as part of the five-run eighth that gifted the Cougars the needed separation.
On the mound, Landon Ritchey (1-0) earned the victory after working the seventh inning, allowing two hits and two unearned runs. Making his first start of the season, Antonio Mendez gave Barton four strong innings, permitting two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The bullpen combined to cover the final five frame with Trey Mackwood recording the final four outs to secure the victory.