Alex Rodgers drove in four runs and scored two as the #18 ranked Barton Community College baseball team defeated North Iowa Area Community College 8-4, in non-conference action Monday afternoon at Lawson-Biggs Field.
The victory extends the Cougars winning streak to thirteen straight improving to 18-2 on the season while NIACC falls to .500 at 6-6 overall. Barton will return to conference action at 1:00 p.m. Thursday traveling to Colby, Kansas, to begin the first leg of a four game set against Colby Community College (2-2, 10-10) as potential weather flipped locations. Weather permitting; with the back end of the series scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first-pitch Saturday at Lawson-Biggs Field.
NIACC would strike first with a run in the second taking advantage of a leadoff walk charted by an ensuing RBI double taking a 1-0 lead.
Noah Rheinheimer put the Cougars on the board in the fifth driving home Tristan Charles's leadoff double. Alex Rodgers gave Barton the lead for good just two pitches later blasting his sixth round tripper on the year plating Nick Kemper's walk and Rheinheimer's double.
The Trojans countered in the top of the sixth with a leadoff walk shadowed by 2-out double manufacturing a run on a wild pitch cutting the Cougar lead in half.
The Cougars extended their lead with a trio of insurance runs in the seventh, as Andrew Stewart produced an RBI groundout tracked by a pair of RBI singles from Carson Pracht and pinch hitter Adam Schrag.
NIACC would make things interesting in the eighth loading the bases on three straight walks. Reliever Jordan Ellison entered out of the bullpen limiting the damage, as the Trojans would settle for a pair on a bases loaded single before the righty induced a 5-3 double play and strikeout ending the rally attempt.
Barton would close the scoring in home half-succeeding Rheinheimer's leadoff triple as Rodgers drove in his fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly.
Starter Logan Phillips earned a no decision, striking out six in four innings of work allowing one run walking three. Hollis Huff earned his first win on the year working a scoreless inning fanning one. Ellison recorded his third save of the season throwing two frames allowing one hit.