The Barton Community College softball team ran into a tough test Friday afternoon, falling twice at Division II No. 13 Johnson County Community College by scores of 9-1 and 8-0 in six-inning run-rule decisions.
The losses move Barton to 15-13 on the season while Johnson County improves to 13-7. The Cougars will look to regroup returning to Jayhawk Conference play Wednesday, hosting Colby Community College for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
Barton was held to 10 hits across the twinbill, including four in the opener and six in game two, with Chalyn Boone (2-for-2 in game one) and Ella Pomme and Hailey Horton collecting two hits each in the nightcap to lead the way. Karter Alvord accounted for the Cougars' lone RBI of the day on a third inning double in the opener.
Johnson County combined for 24 hits and drew 13 walks across the two games, including 11 free passes in the nightcap, while hitting four home runs in the opener to set the tone early.
Game One – Johnson County 9, Barton 1 (6 innings)Barton managed just four hits in the opener while Johnson County capitalized early, plating seven runs across the first two innings to seize control.
Boone provided a bright spot for the Cougars, collecting half of Barton's hits, while Alvord's double produced the lone run. Peyton McCormick also added a hit in the second inning as the Cougars stranded a pair in the frame.
Johnson County's offense was fueled by three home runs, two coming in the first inning, and a four-hit, four-RBI outing from Kennedy Glassford, helping the Cavaliers build an early cushion with four additional runs in the second.
McCormick (3-6) was tagged with the loss, allowing seven runs over 1.2 innings. Ellie Crawford provided relief stability, tossing 4.0 innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out three.
Game Two – Johnson County 8, Barton 0 (6 innings)Barton showed slight improvement at the plate in the nightcap with six hits but was unable to string together timely offense in being shut out.
Pomme and Horton each recorded two hits to lead the Cougars, while Kahli Fields' leadoff double and Carly Erpelding's fifth-inning single added to Barton's opportunities as the Cougars placed multiple runners on base but couldn't break through against Johnson County pitching.
The Cavaliers grabbed a first-inning run, added two in both the third and fourth innings, then tacked on another in the fifth before pushing across the final two runs in the sixth, capitalizing on 11 walks in the contest to keep constant pressure on Barton's pitching staff.
Charley Wheeler (6-6) took the loss, allowing eight runs over 5.0 innings. Trista Rogers recorded the final out in relief.