Written by: Alex Hammeke
The Barton Community College baseball team got one of the needed games against Seward County Community College Saturday at Lawson-Biggs Field, taking the series finale 9-6 after dropping the opener late 4-2.
Going 1-3 against the Saints over the weekend, the Cougars sit in fifth place in the Jayhawk West standings at 8-8 with Barton now at 21-12 on the year while the Saints move into a second-place tie at 13-7 in the Jayhawk and 17-15 overall on the season. The Cougars will open a four game set with Butler Community College with the opening two games schedule for Thursday at Lawson-Biggs Field with Saturday's action shifting to El Dorado. 1:00 p.m. doubleheaders slated for both dates.
Game One Recap:
A pitcher's duel through the opening two frames, Seward's Landon Anderson broke open the scoring in the third connecting with a solo-shot to right giving the Saints the early 1-0 advantage.
Managing three hits and four baserunners through the first three innings, Barton got the big knock needed in the home half of the fourth on a Wade Reynolds double to right scoring Connor Scott following a leadoff hit-by-pitch. The Cougars grabbed their first and lone lead at 2-1 a batter later on a Shawn Marquis RBI groundout scoring Connor Allen.
The Saints countered in the fifth following a leadoff Anderson double and one-out RBI single from K. Werner tying it up at 2-2.
Riding starter Zach Thornton into the seventh, a leadoff single and walk chased the lefty's strong outing. Succeeding a one-out walk loading the bases, an RBI fielder's choice pushed across the go-ahead run ensued by an RBI single tacked an insurance run onto the Saints 4-2 lead.
Looking for one final push in the home half, the Cougars would go down in order, and would have their 13 game winning streak against Seward County at Lawson-Biggs Stadium snapped in the loss.
Game Two Recap:
Hoping to salvage the final game of the series, Barton jetted out to a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first as Wade Reynolds crossed the plate capitalizing on one of the two Seward errors in the nightcap.
A Cougar miscue to open the third followed on a single swung the momentum to the Saints as two batters later Seward grabbed the 2-1 advantage on a 2-RBI double.
Looking to counter in the home half Barton's aggressive plate approach created a strong scoring chance behind a leadoff Scott knock shadowed by Shawn Marquis single putting the Cougars in business. Jordan Ellison brought the tying run across with a sacrifice fly with Ethan Haufler putting the Cougars back on top 3-2 one pitch later driving home Marquis on a single to left.
The Cougar advantage grew to four in the fourth on Reynolds and Marquis RBI singles. Ellison capped the scoring driving in his second sacrifice fly in as many innings.
Starter Payton Tinkler continue to deal keeping the Saints in check tossing back-to-back scoreless frames in fourth and fifth.
Tinkler looked to be cruising in the sixth recording a strikeout to open while inducing a groundout for a pair of quick outs. A two-out walk extended the inning succeeded by a 2-out RBI triple cut the Barton lead in half at 6-3. Tinkler preserved the minimal damage punching out his seventh Saint ending his six-inning outing.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Cougars strung together a two-out rally in the sixth as Haufler knocked in his second RBI of the game with a single ensued by Caden Bressler's RBI single stretching the Barton lead to 9-3.
Down six, the Saints pieced one final rally attempt in the top of the seventh making things interesting as a leadoff error followed by a one-out walk led to Braden Boisvert's fifth homerun of the series pulling Seward to within 9-6.
The Saints built one final push in the top of the eighth after Barton stranded a two-out Scott double and Allen walk. Seward threatened bringing the tying run to the dish behind a two-out walk and single but Cougar reliever Garrett Hissong protected the lead forcing a pop up to halt the Saint threat.