The 14th ranked Barton Community College baseball team would see two very different games leading to a series opening split with a 3-1 loss before bouncing back to win the nightcap 13-7 with Dodge City Community College.
Bouncing back to pick up the game-two victory the Cougars now sit at 24-3 overall with a 5-1 mark in the Jayhawk West Conference while the Conquistadors picked up a series-opening victory over Barton for the second consecutive year before the game two loss running their record to 15-15 overall and 7-3 in the KJCCC.
The series will now shift locations to Dodge City's Cavalier Field for the final two games of the four game set. First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
Game 1 Recap
The game started out promising for the Cougars pounding out three of their games seven hits with all singles in the first turn at the plate but a pair of base running miscues spoiled Barton's early momentum.
Trouble came in the ensuing inning as a two-out single joined by a two base wild pitch put the go-ahead run at third. The Conquistadors produced the opening run with a safety squeeze infield RBI bunt single in gaining the 1-0 lead.
Barton generated a chance in the home third behind a leadoff Henry Hayman hit-by-pitch later advancing to third following a wild pitch and the first of a three hit day by Robby Bolin's infield single but Dodge City's starting hurler Tristian Wolf escaped the jam with a lineout and fly out.
Both pitchers worked scoreless fourth frames but the Conquistadors picked up an insurance run in the fifth, as a fielder's choice succeeding a leadoff walk would arrange an RBI double for the second marker.
One of two Dodge City errors in the bottom of the fifth put Hayman on with one-out. An ensuing Grant Nottlemann single and second Conquistador error placing runners at the corners facilitated Barton's lone run coming on a Bolin opposite field RBI single to right slicing the deficit in half, 2-1.
Dodge City created an additional run in the seventh as a sacrifice fly extended the margin to 3-1 while the Barton bats would go down in order over the final two innings unable to mount any rally attempt.
Starter David Stuart (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season scattering five hits, two runs, three walks and striking out six over five innings. Ivan Cox and Bryan Bartels worked the final two frames with Cox surrendering a run over two hits and a walk while Bartels worked a perfect final frame needing just six pitches.
Game 2 Recap
Faced with an early 4-0 deficit coming to bat in the bottom of the second, the Cougar bats awoken with a two-out rally as back to back Dryden Howse and Hayman singles followed by a Owen Bailey hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Perfect from the dish in the opener, Bolin sustained his big afternoon lacing a first pitch two RBI double to left with a Conquistador fielding error on the play allowing Bailey and Bolin to come across drawing it even 4-4.
Dodge City answered back in the top of the third loading the bases with one-out getting a sacrifice fly and two run single just two batters later capping a three-run response.
Recording the final out of the third with a strikeout, reliever Brett Allen was outstanding out of the bullpen flipping momentum onto the Cougars side working a scoreless fourth inning.
Seizing the opportunity in the bottom of the fourth, a leadoff Hayman double helped cut the lead back within a pair coming around on Bolin's third run producer off a single. Loading the bases on an ensuing Riley Silva single and Ricardo Sanchez walk, Barton drew back even 7-7, on Quinton Robertson's two RBI single.
Things would break open in the bottom of the sixth for the Cougars sending nine batters to the plate started on a Sanchez leadoff double and Robertson walk. Hitless over his first five plate appearances on the day, Ayden Blachowicz delivered the big hit pushing Barton out front for the first time on the afternoon furnishing a near fence clearing RBI double to right. A preceding walk to Chandler Miller to load the bases, Barton's lead would increase three pitches later off a Conquistador wild pitch while a Dryden Howse hit-by-pitch reloaded the bases still with no-outs. The big blow in the inning would come off the bat of Hayman lining a two-run single to center increasing the lead to 11-7. The inning would continue with Bolin, bringing home his fourth run of the contest on a run producing groundout capping the five-run frame.
Barton concluded the scoring stretching across the final marker on a Miller sacrifice fly after loading the bases on a pair of walks and hit-by-pitch.
Utilizing a trio of pitchers over the opening 2.2-innings, Allen was sensational out of the bullpen tossing 5.1 shutout innings yielding three hits, two walks and striking out eight tying his career high over 92-pitches to secure the victory improving to 2-1 on the season. Tyrus Riley closed out the final frame on the mound allowing a walk and striking out a pair.