The Barton Community College baseball team fended off the upset minded Broncbusters of Garden City Community College as the Cougars pieced together some late magic both offensively and defensive to secure a 6-3 opening win at Lawson-Biggs Field before exploding for six runs in the nightcap's sixth frame enroute to a 15-1 seventh inning run-rule shortened triumph.
The victories, along with other action around the league, move the Cougars back to with a game of second place at 15-11 and 28-15 overall while the Broncbusters slide to 8-18 seventh best in the conference standings and 18-24 on the season. The series will shift to Garden's Williams Stadium on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m doubleheader to conclude the four game set. Saturday's games will be streamed live through the "Barton Sports Network" found at https://team1sports.com/bartonsports/.
Game One Recap:
Starter Graham Brunner looked to have his stuff early collecting a pair of quick outs on just four pitches, until trouble arose as the Broncbusters pieced together a two-out rally opening the scoring on a Tyler Barth RBI double to center.
In the home half, the Cougars got a prime scoring opportunity on Alex Rodgers' leadoff triple his sixth of the year. Succeeding a Wade Reynolds hit-by-pitch, Carson Pracht brought home the tying run on a single to left scoring Rodgers.
A leadoff double by Garden City's Michael Wright provided a scoring threat once more for the Broncbusters in the third as two batters later Garden City jumped back in front 2-1 on Will Gardner's RBI groundout.
Scoreless over the next two innings, the Broncbusters stretched their lead to 3-1 on Ryan Muniz groundout operated on Kyle Jameson's triple.
Unable to deliver key hits in the third and fourth stranding a pair, the Cougar offense rallied on a two-out rally as Shawn Marquis trimmed the deficit to one with a single to center driving in a leadoff Reynolds single cutting the deficit to one. Five pitches later Carson Shively delivered the key knock legging out a 2-RBI triple putting Barton in the driver's seat for good.
Pitching with the lead for the first time in the contest, Brunner looked to be in control recording one of his games three strikeouts to open the sixth. A pair of walks and double chased the starter from Alberta, Canada as the Cougars called upon their closer Carson Cornelius. The righty needed just one pitch working out of the bases loaded jam inducing a fielder's choice protecting the 4-3 margin.
The Cougars doubled the score to 6-3 on a Reynolds double scoring a leadoff Payton Sparks single and RBI Pracht single capping his 3-for-3 game at the dish.
Cornelius closed the door notching his team leading second save of the season despite a Garden City baserunner reaching on a dropped third strike.
Brunner now 6-3 on the season tossed 5.2-innings, allowing three runs on four hits, issuing three walks and striking out three.
Game Two Recap:
Ian Lanik dominated in his second start on the bump as the starter made the most of his run support holding the Broncbusters to just one run over 6.0-innings tossed. The righty allowed just five hits, issuing one walk while fanning three Garden City batters securing his second victory of the season.
Garden City struck first in game two, using a leadoff double and single for a RBI groundout.
Unable to push across a run in the opening frame, Marquis provided the equalizer in the Cougars' second at-bat with a groundout to second in driving home Jackson Hartley's leadoff walk. Two batters later Colter Maldonado's sacrifice fly put Barton ahead 2-1 scoring Connor Scott's double.
Barton's offense became contagious in the bottom of the fourth as back-to-back RBI singles from Rogers and Reynolds and a later balk platooned the Barton lead to 5-1.
Continuing to swing the bats well, the Cougars grew the lead with four more in the fifth as a Sparks 2-RBI double and Pracht 2-RBI single lengthened the margin to 9-1.
Things fell apart for the Garden City pitching staff in Barton's sixth inning at-bat resulting in six runs on the home's side of the scoreboard. Sparks produced the first of three doubles in the frame while two Garden City pitchers combined in aiding the scoring output with one walk and three hit batsman.
The Broncbusters mounted one final push in the top of the seventh loading the bases following a leadoff walk and back-to-back singles. Facing a bases loaded jam and no outs, Barton reliever Hayden Baumwart pitched his way out of the inherited situation fanning one and inducing a 3-6-1 game ending double-play.