The momentum swung Thursday for the Barton Community College softball team, as the Cougars were limited offensively in a pair of run-shortened losses at Division II No. 1-ranked Murray State College.
After collecting 20 hits the previous day in North Texas, Barton managed just four total hits in an 8–0, six-inning loss in the opener followed by a 13–1 setback in five innings to close the south trip.
Now 2–2 on the season, the Cougars return to action Monday with a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma.
Offensive highlights were limited, with Carly Erpelding and Karter Alvord accounting for Barton's two hits in the opener, while Hailey Horton and Kahli Fields recorded singles in the nightcap. Fields, making her collegiate debut in game two, drove in the Cougars' lone run with a two-out, 2-2 pitch RBI double scoring Grace Hembree's leadoff walk.
In the circle, Barton used three pitchers on the day. Charley Wheeler took the game-one loss while Peyton McCormick was tagged with the loss in the finale as both moved to 1-1 on the year. Ellie Crawford provided relief in both contests, including the final 2.2 innings of the nightcap.