Garland's 3-run home run lifts Barton Baseball to 18-16 victory in weekend series finale at Cloud County

Clayton Garland's three-run home run in the top of the ninth gave the Barton Community College baseball team a much needed 18-16 victory in the weekend series finale Sunday against Cloud County Community College.  The Thunderbirds scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to take Saturday's game one 4-3 then followed with an 18-2 blasting of the Cougars in game two.  On Sunday Cloud again came from behind scoring one run in each of the last three innings to escape with a 3-2 victory.  Trailing 3-0 in the weekend series and squandering a ten run lead in Sunday's game two, Barton suddenly found themselves trailing 15-14 headed to the ninth.  After back-to-back singles by Alex King and Adam Smith and a Federico Castagnini groundout, Garland cleared the table with his home run.  The Cougars added an insurance run on a Ryan Tracy fielder's choice scoring Dylan Turpin who had doubled to right field after Garland's homer.  Barton, 20-15 on the season, will take a break from conference play on Tuesday as they travel to Hays to play a 4:00 p.m. nine-inning game against the Fort Hays State University junior varsity.  The Cougars, who are now 6-14 in conference play, will return to Jayhawk West action this Friday and Saturday as Butler Community College comes to Lawson-Biggs Field.  Friday's doubleheader will begin at 2:00 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader scheduled for 1:00 p.m.