Cougars escape upset in opener to sweep Dodge
The Barton County Community College baseball team kept things interesting a little longer than expected in the opening game but eventually got the job done then rolled to an easy win in the nightcap to sweep Dodge City at Lawson Field Saturday afternoon. The Cougars trailed by 2 runs in the 6th inning of the opener, but rallied for a 6-4 win. Barton won the 2nd game, 10-2, for the sweep. The Cougars are now 26-21 overall this year and 16-14 in Jayhawk West play. Dodge City, still winless in the conference, fell to 3-42 overall and 0-26 in the West.

Highlights
Barton jumped out to a quick start in the game, as the first two batters scored. Andrew Giambrone opened the game with a walk, stole 2nd and scored on a Brent Biggs single. Biggs later scored on a Wade Gubbels single but the Cougars left two runners on base in the opening inning. That would be the end of the Barton scoring for a while.

The Cougars held that 2-0 lead until the 5th when the 1st 5 Dodge City batters reached off starter Justin Randa. Randa had taken a no-hitter into the inning but gave up 4 hits and walked one to start the inning as Dodge tied it at 2-all. Nate Smith came in with the bases loaded and no outs. Smith traded strike out and walks to his 1st 4 batters to allow 2 more Dodge runs to score and give the Conquistadors a 4-2 lead.

Barton had back-to-back 1-out walks in the bottom of the 5th, and eventually loaded the bases with two outs but failed to score. The Cougars finally broke through in the 6th inning. Giambrone and Biggs started the inning with singles and Andrew Small walked to load the bases with no outs. Chris Evans then gave the Cougars the lead with a single to right that skid past the right fielder and scored all 3 runs for a 5-4 Barton lead. Evans scored on a Gubbels fly out to make it 6-4 – the final margin. Smith picked up the win in relief.

Chad Lee was impressive on the mound in the 2nd game, not allowing a Dodge City base runner until there were 2 outs in the 4th inning. Lee lost his control in the 5th, hitting 3 batters, throwing a wild pitch and giving up a hit to make it 7-2. He improved to 2-2 with the win. Brett McBride and Brian Dorsey threw shutout relief for the Cougars.

A Dodge City error opened the door in the 1st inning for Barton and the Cougars took advantage. The inning should have been over when a pop up behind 2nd base fell to the ground, keeping the inning alive and scored Giambrone. From there the Cougars Mark Stoltz was hit by a pitch and Michael Stettinger walked to load the bases. Robbie Adams singled in Evans Stoltz for a 3-0 lead.

Barton's Evans and Stoltz banged out back-to-back doubles in the 2nd to score 3 more runs and give Barton a 6-0 lead. Giambrone continued his hot afternoon with a triple to score Matt Coatman in the 3rd for a 7-0 lead. The Cougars added 3 more insurance runs in the 6th on their way to the win.

Stats
Complete stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu

Next
Sun., April 24 – at Butler, 2 pm (Jayhawk West doubleheader at McDonald Park in El Dorado)

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Check out Barton County Baseball Online at www.bartonccc.edu/sports