The Barton Community College baseball team opened the 2020 season with a strong start claiming three-of-four games this weekend over Carl Albert State College in Poteau, Oklahoma.
The Cougars and Vikings would split Saturday's action as Barton took the opener 7-2 before falling in a 2-0 pitcher's duel in the nightcap. On Sunday the Cougars would sweep Carl Albert State College by scores of 6-0 and 13-4 in the series finale.
Barton will have the week off before traveling to Rose State College for a three game set beginning on Friday in a nine-inning tilt with the Raiders.
Saturday's Game 1:
Barton grabbed an early lead on its way to a 7-2 series opening victory on Chandler Bloomer's first inning sacrifice fly in the opening frame. The Vikings would respond in the home half following a pair of singles in knotting the score up for the final time.
Making his collegiate debut, Alex Rodgers put the Cougars in front for good a half inning later recording a two-out, two-RBI double. The Cougars pushed across another pair in the fifth before a pair of solo-shots from freshman Conner Scott in the sixth and Andrew Stewart in the seventh put the claw in the Vikings.
Starting hurler Clay Wesbrooks recorded his first collegiate win on the mound going five-innings allowing four hits, two runs, one earned, fanning six and walking two in the winning effort.
Saturday's Game 2:
The Cougars received another strong performance on the hill from starter Graham Brunner, scattering three hits and striking out eight allowing just three free passes in four innings to take a no decision in the effort.
The Cougar bats could muster just five hits in the seven inning game as the Vikings made one of its five hits providing to be the difference maker in the contest on a two-run walk-off homer.
Barton had its best chances to score in the top of the third before an inning-ending double play halted the threat.
Sunday's Game 1:
The Cougars bats awoke in the first of two in Sunday's action as Barton pieced together ten hits in game one with Charlie Peyla, Tyler Bandiera, and Bloomer each recording multi-hit performances for the Cougars.
Bandiera provided the big hit in the second blasting his fifth career dinger as Peyla trotted home following a leadoff single, giving Barton the 2-0 advantage.
Barton would continue to use the long ball as Andrew Stewart mustard his second-round tripper on the weekend in the third doubling the Cougar lead.
Bloomer and Cole Embrey delivered a pair of runs in the fifth, Bloomer delivering a demoralizing single with Embrey collecting his first collegiate RBI with a groundout.
Easton Young surrendered no runs on two hits over six innings, fanning seven and walking one before handing it over to Logan Phillips for the final frame.
Sunday's Game 2:
Barton put up a couple of big innings in the series clincher with three in the sixth and four in the seventh to put the game away.
The Cougars managed three home runs on the day as Bloomer and Shively connected on lead-off round trippers to open the third and fourth innings while Austin Gerety tallied one in the seventh.
Taking a no-hitter into the sixth, the Vikings would muster their first hit of the ballgame with a two-out single before plating four runs in the final frame.
Noah Geekie tossed Barton to the victory going five innings allowing zero hits and zero runs while striking out seven. Payton Tinkler and Hollis Huff entered the game out of the bullpen to help close the game in relief.