Highlighted behind Reece Hemmerling's complete game shutout and Jaron Cotton's nine RBI performance, the Barton Community College baseball team served up a doubleheader sweep of Pratt Community College Thursday afternoon at Lawson-Biggs Field.
Setting the tone from the start, Hemmerling tossed all seven innings posting his second complete game shutout of the year in the 8-0 series opening victory. Shadowing Hemmerling's strong outing in the nightcap, Cotton turned in a 4-for-4 nine RBI offensive performance at the plate highlighted behind his three-run sixth inning blast as the Cougars scored 12-unanswered in notching the seventh inning 22-12 run-rule victory.
Sweeping the twin bill, Barton improves to 8-2 in the Jayhawk West and 21-6 overall while the losses drop the Beavers to 0-10 in league play and 11-18 on the season. Winners of nine straight, the Cougars will put the win streak back on the line Saturday as the series shifts to Pratt's Stanion Baseball Field for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.
Game 1 Recap (W 8-0)
Hemmerling (3-1) notched his second straight victory going all seven innings while permitting six hits. Hemmerling's lone scare came in the sixth facing a bases loaded no-out jam succeeding three singles to open the inning. Digging deep the sophomore preserved the shutout recording two of his six strikeouts and generating a flyout to escape trouble.
Wyatt Yetter's double with two-outs in the home first gifted Barton a 2-0 advantage as the freshman drove in two of his game high three RBIs.
Adding to the lead in the fourth, Owen Clyne's double extending his hitting streak to then nine straight games fashioned the first of a three-run inning with Ayden Hadley's run producing single and Yetter fielder's choice growing the lead to 5-0.
Laying the game on ice in the sixth after escaping the bases loaded jam in the top half, a wild pitch scoring Grant Nottlemann's second drawn walk of the game powered the first of another three-run inning. Pinch hitting in the fifth, Hank Orr's first collegiate triple added a second run with Robby Bolin's third hit ensuing resting the score, 8-0.
Game 2 Recap (W 22-12 (7))
Trailing 12-10 heading to the bottom of the sixth, the Cougars rallied to take a 16-12 lead with the first of two straight six-run innings.
The comeback started with Clyne drawing a bases loaded RBI walk while Cotton's two-run producing single gifting the lead back to Barton scoring Cesar Gomez walk and Bolin hit-by-pitch. Nottlemann's two-run triple stretched the advantage to three as Barrett Donaldson's RBI groundout capped the six run response for a 16-12 lead.
The momentum lingered into the sixth holding the Beavers scoreless for the first time with reigning conference player of the week Cotton remaining perfect at the plate belting a three-run blast to left for his fifth of the season. Donaldson's two-run double two batters later and error scoring the freshman finished the second straight six-run frame and eventual run-rule victory.
Starting pitcher Aidan Sowers earned a no-decision tossing 3.1-innings allowing five hits, six runs, four earned, walking three and striking out one.
Utilizing five pitchers on the afternoon, Jackson MacWilliams (1-0) collected his first collegiate victory working 1.1-innings scattering three hits, two runs, one earned while Colton Wahlstrom posted two shutouts innings yielding three hits, a walk and two punchouts.
Barton had 13 total hits and had to overcome five errors in the game while Pratt finished with 15 hits and three errors.
Cotton wen 4-for-4 with a home run, double, three runs scored and nine RBIs. Nottlemann finished 2-for-4 with a triple, double and two RBIs while Donaldson rounded out the 2-for-5 day with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Following a 3-for-4 game 1 performance, Bolin finished 1-for-3 in the backend extending his hitting streak to 24-straight games with three runs scored and two stolen bases.