The Barton Community College baseball team got back to its winning ways Sunday taking a doubleheader over MCC-Longview 4-0 and 6-5 at Lawson-Biggs Field. Getting three runs in the fourth leading to the game one win, the Cougars’ five run lead in the nightcap was erased in the final two innings before a bases loaded walk-off single won the nightcap in ten innings. The fourth walk off win of the year improves the Cougars to 18-7 on the season while dropping MCC-Longview to 8-15. Barton will return to conference play on Friday beginning a two-day four-game set at Dodge City Community College. First pitch for each day’s doubleheader at Cavalier Field slated for 1:00 p.m.
Having their fourteen game losing streak snapped this past Thursday, it took the Cougars into the fourth to get going as Cole Henley‘s triple to left center ignited a three run inning. Michael Sinks would deliver the would be game winner with a single to center then himself crossed the plate after a wild pitch and Ryan McClure‘s reaching base on an infield single. Corrigan Bartlett then banged a double off the left field fence with Mason Hightower loading the bases drawing a four pitch walk. Ryan Schippers‘ single to left would drive in another but the Cougars would leave them loaded following a Matthew Baca single.
Jackson Rose sailed through the first five innings surrendering only two hits while striking out five improving to 3-1 while Austin Taylor nailed down the final two innings giving up a lone hit while striking out five earning his first save of the season.
Barton added on an insurance run in the sixth with Hightower getting a one-out single later scoring on Baca’s fielder’s choice.
The Cougars were cursing along in the second game getting two in each of the third and fifth innings before a one-run sixth inning. A Colton Zink double would score on the first of the Lakers’ three errors in the game as Henley beat out the play. One batter later Sinks delivered a rocket liner to left center plating Henley giving Barton the 2-0 lead.
A leadoff walk and single would chase Cody Brewer from the mound in the fourth, but Garret Rogers would close the door on runners at second and third with one out striking out the next batter and inducing a short left field fly to end the Lakers’ best threat.
Henley kept the fifth inning alive with a two out single before Sinks drove another double to the left center gap. Dayton Pomeroy would following with his own double lacing a screamer down the line increasing Barton’s lead to four.
For the second consecutive inning the Cougars rallied with two-outs with Baca drawing a walk. Looking to steal second, Baca appeared to be easily gunned out but fancy footwork from the freshman avoided the tag. One pitch later Zink made the Lakers pay with a shot up the middle putting Barton in what appeared to be a comfortable five run lead with three innings to play.
Rogers did his part on the bump going 3.2 innings striking out three with one lone hit going into to the eighth. Giving the ball to Taylor Langston, a single back up the box opened the inning and one out later Andrew Warner gave the Lakers life in the dugout launching a two-run shot to center. A two-out walk kept the inning alive and following a wild pitch, a single to center suddenly cut the lead to two headed to the home half of the eighth.
Getting a leadoff walk, two groundouts advanced McClure to third but Barton wasn’t able to produce the insurance run it would need.
Mason Hiser, who hadn’t allowed a run in his last thirteen innings, entered the ninth looking to secure the win. Getting the first out on a comeback to the mound, an infield error followed by a double quickly gave the Lakers the tying run at second. Four pitches later it was tied as Nate Hunter made it consecutive doubles with a drive to the right center gap. Hunter would get to third on a wild pitch but Hiser induced a groundout to short before striking out the final batter.
A quick home half sent Hiser back to the mound but it didn’t seem to faze the Augusta freshman striking out the first two batters of the extra frame. MCC-Longview wouldn’t lay down easy getting consecutive singles but Hiser slammed the door striking out his third of the inning stranding Lakers at the corners.
The Lakers’ third error of the game proved costly in the home half of the tenth allowing Sinks to reach base for the fourth time in the game. A Pomeroy single and McClure fielder’s choice followed by Bartlett reaching after hit by pitch would load the bases with one out. Laker reliever Ben Erickson struck out Trey Pittman and had Baca in a 1-2 hole but missing the next pitch, Baca blasted the 2-2 offering deep to center just over the retreating center fielder’s mitt giving Barton the walk-off win.
Despite the blown save, Hiser improved to 3-2 on the season giving up four hits, one earned run, and striking out four in his two innings of work.
