By TODD MOORE
Barton Sports Info
The Barton Community College softball team pounded out 35 hits Wednesday afternoon in a pair of run-rule shortened victories at Garden City Community College.
Barton built a thirteen-run lead through three innings of the opener to win 17-2 before plating nine runs in game two's fifth frame to lock up the sweep 14-5.
The Cougars improve to 6-0 in conference play and 9-5 on the season in dropping Garden City to 1-3 in league and 9-9 overall.
Next up is Saturday's 1:00 p.m. doubleheader hosting Dodge City Community College before embarking on a two-date road swing.
Twelve of the Cougars' connections were for extra bases including five leaving the yard led by Chloe Enslinger's three round-trippers giving the sophomore five on the season.
Enslinger, along with fellow sophomore Elina Bartlett, batted .833 on the day as each went 5-of-6 at the plate. Enslinger's big day started with a 3-for-3 performance with 5 RBI in the opener, belting her then-3rd home run of the season helping the Cougars get off to a 6-run first frame start.
In game two the Cougars were in a dogfight with the Broncbusters until the fifth inning when Barton sent twelve to the plate breaking the contest open on a game clinching nine runs.
Enslinger again led the big blows in the frame, following pinch-hitter Mollie Steiner's first collegiate hit leading off the inning with a two-run shot to center field. Following Barton putting another three tallies on the board, Steiner drove in a pair marking another collegiate first with Enslinger following with her second, 2-run dinger of the frame capping a 9-RBI doubleheader production.
Allyson McDougal was close behind in batting at a .750 clip, going 6-of-8 with a pair of RBI extending her hit streak to seven straight games matching Laney Wood's consecutive streak as the freshman went 4-of-8 setting the table at the top of the lineup.
Second behind Enslinger in runs produced, Peyton McCormick drove in 5 runs clearing the fence in each game, the first coming on a two-run shot in the third inning putting Barton up 13-0 with the nightcap's first inning blast for her 3rd of the season giving the Cougars the early 3-0 lead.