Ricardo Sanchez drove in four of his eight runs behind his third career grand slam and Ayden Blachowicz pieced together a 4-of-6 day at the plate driving in three to lead the 13th ranked Barton Community College baseball team to a four-game sweep over Pratt Community College Saturday afternoon at Jimmy Lawson-Danny Biggs Field.
In the opener, a three run bases clearing Blachowicz triple and Sanchez grand-slam highlighted an eight run third inning helping the Cougars to a 14-4 fifth inning run rule victory. Barton received balanced production in the series finale as eight of the nine in the lineup produced a hit finishing off the series sweep 11-3.
Securing their third straight Jayhawk West series victory in as many chances, the Cougars sit atop the conference standings at 11-1 and 30-3 overall while the Beavers drop to 6-10 in league play and 17-19 overall. Barton will continue its' homestead Tuesday stepping out of conference play with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against the Tabor University JV before concluding the six-game homestead Thursday at 1:00 p.m. against conference foe Seward County Community College.
Game 1 Recap
Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the third, the Cougar offense broke through with an eight-run response to grab their first and only lead needed. A pair of walks to Sanchez and Miller sprinkled between a Quinton Robertson double to open the frame loaded the bases with no-outs. Needing just one pitch, Barton jumped out front 5-4 on Blachowicz bases clearing triple down the right field line before coming home four pitches later on Dryden Howse sacrifice fly.
The inning prolonged as back-to-back two-out Grant Nottlemann and Robby Bolin hit-by-pitches and Beaver error created a Sanchez grand slam to straight away center for his team leading fourth home run of the season extending the Cougar lead to 10-4.
Barton increased the lead in the bottom of the fourth with four runs, all scored with two outs in the inning. Henry Hayman started the two-out rally with a single to left driving home a Blachowicz one-out single. Nottlemann increased the lead bringing across his second run of the game legging out a triple to center while coming home on the Beavers second error allowing Silva to reach base. Robertson produced his second run driven in the hard way capping the Cougar scoring drawing the third hit-by-pitch in the inning and second straight plunking.
Utilizing two pitchers, starter Tegan Cain (4-1) earned the victory working 3.2-innings scattering five hits, four runs (three earned), walked three and struck out four. Ivan Cox tossed the final 1.1-innings getting out of a key jam with two on and two-outs in the fourth with his lone strikeout.
Game 2 Recap
Locked in a 1-1 tie entering the bottom of the fifth, the fourth straight single coming off the bat of Jaden Wiley on a two-out hit and run, broke the deadlock giving Barton a 2-1 lead.
The Cougars stretched the margin out to 4-1 behind another two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth as a wild pitch moved Hayman and Bolin walks into scoring position before jogging home on Sanchez single to left.
Grabbing a 5-1 advantage on a two-out Beaver error allowing Blachowicz leadoff walk to score, Pratt cut the lead back to a pair, 5-3 on a two-run home run to left in the seventh.
Answering the call in the home half of the seventh, Barton got the runs right back as Sanchez produced the first of three straight doubles bringing around a Bolin walk and Silva hit-by-pitch. Robertson swapped places with Sanchez just two pitches later before moving to third on Blachowicz double and scoring on Wiley's sacrifice fly. The Cougars final two runs came on RBI singles by Hayman and Owen Bailey which extended Bailey's hitting streak to six straight games after coming to the plate 0-for-2 prior.
Tossing a trio of pitchers over the nine-inning contest, starter Reece Hemmerling (4-0) earned the victory working five innings allowing just one run on four hits, walking three and striking out seven tying his career high production. Hunter Jones worked three frames out of the bullpen allowing his first two runs of the season allowing three hits and fanning five Beavers. Bryan Bartels worked a scoreless ninth permitting just a two-out walk.