The Barton Community College baseball team kicked off the home portion of the season a day later than expected but came away with a doubleheader sweep over Western Nebraska Community College Sunday afternoon at Jimmy Lawson-Danny Biggs Field.
In the opener, the Cougars saw a three-run lead fade into a 5-4 deficit coming to bat in the fifth. Answering the call, the Barton offense produced three of its' games nine hits in the bottom of the fifth to plate three runs in earning a game one 7-5 victory.
In the nightcap, the Cougars jetted out front plating five runs in the first inning to build up an eventual 6-0 lead before withstanding a late Western Nebraska surge adding a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to complete the twin bill sweep, 8-5.
Winners of 26 straight in the series, Barton improves to 4-1 on the season while the loss drops the Cougars of Western Nebraska to 1-5 on the young year.
The Cougars will look to secure a series victory Monday afternoon with hopes of earning its' eighth straight sweep against WNCC as the two teams will play another doubleheader with first pitch scheduled at 12:00 p.m. from Lawson-Biggs Field.
Game 1 Recap (W 7-5)
Ayden Hadley's leadoff double and Owen Clyne's walk to leadoff the bottom of the second had Barton in business as Cole Schieffer's single through the right side broke the 0-0 tie. Hank Orr made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly one batter later.
Adding a run in the third on a wild pitch scoring Grant Nottleman's 1-out triple for a 3-0 lead, WNCC would break across the scoreboard in the top of the fourth as a one-out double created a sacrifice-fly slicing the margin to 3-1.
Playing small ball in the fourth, Barton grasped the three run lead back on Orr's second sacrifice-fly of the game plating Clyne's leadoff double.
After WNCC captured the 5-4 lead with four runs in the top of the fifth, sophomore Colton Wahlstrom come on with the bases loaded and one out to induce a 4-6-3 double play to limit the damage.
Robby Bolin's leadoff single and swipe of second swung momentum back to the Cougars side while Nottleman's walk positioned the go-ahead run with none away. Following Jaron Cotton's sacrifice bunt, Hadley delivered his second big hit lacing a two-RBI single to right with Schieffer's RBI triple capping the three-run response for a 7-5 lead.
Nails out of the bullpen Wahlstrom tossed 2.2 shutout innings, retiring all eight batters faced to earn his first collegiate victory.
Making his first start of the year and third collegiate nod, Nathan Bowman shined going 4.0 innings against WNCC allowing one hit, scattering four hits, walking three and striking out three in the no-decision effort.
Game 2 Recap (W 8-5)
In the nightcap, Barton raced out to a 5-0 first inning lead highlighted behind Schieffer's three-run blast for his first collegiate home run while also getting a run off WNCC's lone error of the game and Cooper Tabor's sacrifice fly proceeding.
Schieffer's big day continued in the home fourth drawing a bases loaded walk for his fourth RBI and sixth of the day stretching the Cougar lead to 6-0.
Trimming the deficit to 6-5, Western Nebraska put the tying run in scoring position following a leadoff double to jumpstart the eighth before Jackson MacWilliams escaped the jam with a fly out and pair of punchouts.
Barton added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as Bolin legged out an infield single to extend the inning and plate Tabor's two-out single to start the rally with Cotton's ensuing RBI double putting an additional insurance run.
The Cougars received another excellent performance from its starting pitcher with Aidan Sowers logging 4.1 innings of one-run ball. The sophomore allowed no-hits, walking four and fanning five in a no-decision effort.
Preston Golden collected his first collegiate victory out of the bullpen working 1.0 inning, scattering two hits and two earned runs.
MacWilliams closed the door earning his first collegiate save tossing 2.0 shutout innings, yielding one hit and fanning a pair.