Spring weather prevailed in the end Tuesday at Cougar Field leaving the Barton Community College softball team a defeat to show for the Cougars' effort hosting Northern Oklahoma College-Enid.
Intermittent rain and a south breeze provided the backdrop for game one of the scheduled doubleheader. Tied at 6 in the second inning before a 30-minute rain delay stopped play, NOC took the early advantage on the resumption with three runs before posting an eight-spot in the third in rolling on to an 18-12 win.
The Cougars flipped the script in game two, jumping out to a 5-1 lead after the first inning to eventually lead 14-5 in the bottom of the fourth before the early sunset time forced the darkness cancellation of the potential victory.
Barton drops to 1-4 on the year after the one game result, NOC capturing their first win to also stand 1-4 on the season.
Heading south to Weatherford, Texas, this weekend for potentially better weather conditions, Barton will play two games Friday and two on Saturday. On Friday the Cougars will play Rose State College at 4:00 p.m. followed by a 6:00 p.m. contest versus 4th ranked Seminole State College. Saturday's games begin at 10:00 a.m. against region foe and Division II 15th ranked Cowley College followed by a 2:00 p.m. first pitch against host Weatherford College.
Game 1 Recap
Calli McConnell began her 3-for-5 game with a two-RBI double scoring Halie Stoneking's leadoff single and Leslie Ramos' walk in tying the game up in the bottom of the first frame. An ensuing Jenna Henderson walk and Jaysa Anderson's single loaded up the bases with Sydni Williams clearing the bags with a grand slam for the squad's first round-tripper of the season.
NOC countered with a three run home run and RBI double tying it back up at six in the second before the constant rain turned heavier forcing a near 30-minute delay.
The Jets carried the momentum through the delay tacking on three to complete their second inning at-bats ahead on the scoreboard 9-6.
Barton had a quick three-up three-down in their at-bat before the Jets' first eight players to the plate in the third had positive results leading to an eight-run frame including Kaycee Babek's deep fly for the game's second grand slam.
Barton chipped away at the deficit in the home half, Stoneking connecting on one of her three hits in delivering a two-RBI single.
Jenna Henderson took over in the circle in the NOC third inning, getting the final three outs then sending the Jets down with two strikeouts in the fourth before keeping the score untouched through the fifth of the 17-9 deficit.
Down to their final out to extend the game, Stoneking blasted her first of the year and 13th as a Cougar extending the game with McConnell following Ramos' reach on error with a run producing double drawing to within six.
Stranding a leadoff double in the sixth, the Jets' one-out double did cross the plate in the seventh frame on a two out hit pushing the gap back to seven.
McConnell closed out the game's scoring with her collegiate first fence clearer coming on a one-out big fly over the left field fence.
Jessica Morgan got the start before exiting in the second frame and surrendering seven runs in dropping to 0-2, Kayla Beers taking over but getting lifted after ten runs, and Henderson getting the ball for the final five innings allowing just one run on five hits, walking none and striking out five.
Game 2 Recap
*Game result and stats do not count
Unfortunately for the Cougars and a number of individual performances, the darkness cancellation wiped off a potential positive result on the scoreboard and the stat sheet.
After NOC grabbed a run in the top half, Williams' double tied it up with Kayden Smith launching a three-run home run to take the lead. An Anderson single later, Cameron Pelzel connected on hit resulting in what would have been her first collegiate hit and RBI pushing the lead to 5-1.
A Jet sac fly sliced the deficit in the second but Henderson got the run back plus one with a left field home run. Pelzel came through again later in the inning with an RBI double putting the Cougars up 9-2.
The Jets got two back in the third on singles with Anderson providing the answer in the home half with a bases loaded two-RBI single with another run scoring on an error.
Two doubles resulted in one run for the Jets in the top of the final fourth inning before Makenzie Haslett blasted a two-run home run growing the lead to 14-5 but darkness prevailed as the final victor in the game ender.
Henderson worked the first 4.1 innings with three strikeouts, Williams getting the final two outs including a strikeout.