By BRANDON SMITH
Barton Sports Info
A nine run first inning set the tone for the No. 17 Barton Community College baseball team on Monday evening at Lawson-Biggs Field, as the Cougars finished off their three-game season sweep over the junior varsity squad of McPherson College behind a 21-2 seven inning run rule victory.
Combining to hit four home runs on the afternoon, Ayden Hadley and Cooper Tabor's two-run first-inning home runs highlighted Barton's nine-run first frame with the second of Hunter Alvord's two-dinger performance tying the program's single season home run record of 14 with the final tallies on the run rule victory.
Improving to 37-8 on the season and extending the winning streak to a program best 19-straight, the Cougars will set their sights on the final four-game conference series of the regular season beginning Thursday afternoon at Dodge City Community College. First pitch of the series is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. weather permitting from Cavalier Field with the final two games of the series coming Saturday at Lawson-Biggs Field.
Utilizing 17-players throughout the lineup card, Barton manufactured a run in five of their six at-bats producing 22 hits in 41 at-bats with 12 going for extra bases.
Alvord and Kyle Walker keyed the Barton hit parade as the pair turned in 4-for-6 and 4-for-5 performances respectfully. Alvord supplied two of his four hits with no-doubt fence clearers for his team leading 13th and 14th home runs to go with a double and four RBIs. Walker built his four-pack of hits behind a pair of doubles and RBI.
Hadley and Tabor combined for nine of the Cougars' 21 RBIs.
Hadley's 3-for-3 evening directed the squad with five RBIs, as the sophomore drove in three of the Cougars' nine first frame runs with the initial two-run home run for his ninth of the season and run producing double later in the inning. Tabor furnished the second two-run blast in the first with his second fence clearer of the year to anchor the lower third of the lineup as part of his 2-for-2 four RBI outing.
Hayden Oviatt fashioned two of his three RBIs with one of Barton's three triples while Jaxon Case and Barrett Donaldson added the other two each driving in one.
Making his first collegiate plate appearance in the sixth, Cade Kunz legged out a first pitch double following Hunter Houfek's RBI single in the sixth later trotting home on Alvord's second big fly.
Starting pitcher Eli Lang (3-0) notched the victory behind three no-hit innings, walking one and striking out a trio of Bulldogs.
Utilizing four relievers, Cam Bergstrom operated a scoreless fourth frame with two strikeouts while Drew Florance handled the fifth scattering two hits, two unearned runs and strikeout in his collegiate debut.
Tyler Stuhlsatz and Jack Dilley tossed the final two innings each working clean sheets with a combined five punchouts, Stuhlsatz recording a pair and Dilley striking out the side to end it in the seventh.