The Barton Community College baseball team used a nine-run sixth inning to power its way to a season opening 14-9 road victory over Rose State Community College Friday afternoon in Midwest City, OK.
Ricardo Sanchez manufactured a career day at the dish producing eight RBIs the most in a single game to recent memory in the Cougar record books behind a pair of grand slams turning in a 3-for-5 day at the dish. Returners Connor Allen and Shawn Marquis produced the lone other multi-hit performance each tallying a pair while Henry Hayman drove in the lone other runs with a pinch-hit two RBI double.
Starting pitcher Zach Thornton tossed four innings allowing two earned runs on four hits walking one and striking out five earning a no decision in the effort. Ian Lanik earned his third career victory for the Cougars with 1.2 innings in relief giving up one run on one hit and fanning one Raider. David Stuart, Bryan Bartels, Carson Cornelius, and Cade Kohlmeier each made appearances on the hill and fortifying outs in the victory.
The Cougars will look for a series victory Saturday as the two square off in a nine-inning tilt with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. weather pending.
RECAP
Alex Rodgers started the contest with a leadoff single before producing the game's opening run four pitches later as one of six Rose State errors allowed Rodgers to cross the plate from first.
The lead would be short lived as the Raiders strung back-to-back singles to kickstart the bottom half of the inning producing the tying run the next batter later on a fielder's choice.
Following a scoreless second frame, Rose State got its' first and lone lead in the bottom of the third on a two-out solo home run put the Raiders in front 2-1.
Struggling to get key knocks stranding five through the opening five, it was a one-out rally in the top of the sixth inning keying the first of two big frames for the Cougars. A Marquis one-out knock backed by Colter Maldonado and Jace Stewart walks had Barton in business loading them up. Hayman delivered the first big hit roping a pinch hit two RBI double three pitches later putting the Cougars in front 3-2. The offense was not finished as a Rodgers plunk by pitch loaded them back up for Sanchez, as the freshman uncorked an 0-2 pitch to left for the first of his two grand slams. Barton would punch across three more fueled by a pair of Raider miscues capping the nine-spot inning.
Facing a one-out bases loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth, Lanik limited the damage allowing a Rose State sac-fly while giving way to Cornelius as the freshman punched out his lone batter faced leaving them loaded keeping Barton's lead at 10-3.
The Raiders continued to stay within reach slicing the margin in half at 10-5 in the eighth as a pair came across on one of four Barton errors.
The second outburst came in the final frame as a Stewart and Rodgers walk mixed between a Riley Silva pinch hit single loaded them up once more for Sanchez as the freshman teed off his second grand salami to left ballooning the Cougar lead back to nine.
Rose State pieced one last push in the bottom half loading them up with three straight singles eventually adding four off a sacrifice fly, Barton error and RBI single before Kohlmeier shut the door on the Raiders rally with a three pitch punchout.