Cougars break even on Spring Break trip

Cougars break even on Spring Break trip
The Barton County Community College baseball team broke even during its Spring Break trip to the South, posting a 6-6 mark. The Cougars swept one series and were swept in one series. Barton split the other four twinbills. Barton is now 9-7 overall this season.

Highlights
Barton started things off in Oklahoma, splitting a pair of contest with Northern Oklahoma in Enid. Both contests were 2-run affairs with Barton losing the first 6-4 before winning a 9-7 decision. Greg Sutton drove in four runs in the nightcap win.

The Cougars then made their way into Texas to take on Frank Phillips College, again splitting games. The Cougars scored just once in the opener in a 5-1 setback, then rallied to win the nightcap again, this time 7-5. Glenn Jackson and TJ Liles played big parts in the win as Jackson went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Liles was also 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

The Cougars struggled from the mound in Midland, Texas, dropping both games, 8-7 and 17-5. Barton returned to the field the next day in neighboring Odessa, Texas and split games with Odessa College. In the opener the Cougars received a strong pitching effort from sophomore Andrew Burdine for a 5-2 win. Burdine went the distance, striking out 7 and scattering 10 hits. Patrick Wallis had three hits for Barton while five different Cougars drove in runs and scored runs. The Cougars dropped the nightcap, 5-3.

Barton began its trek back to Great Bend with a doubleheader in Bethany, Okla. against the Southern Nazarine JV team, sweeping games by 5-3 and 14-3. Chris Klick earned the win in the opener and Brendon Bump came on to register the save. Adam Searle and Steve Elson each drove in a pair of runs for Barton in the win. Wallis had a big game in the second contest, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles. He also drove in four runs and scored three times.

The Cougars concluded the Spring Break with a pair of home games against Iowa Western. The Cougars rolled to a 14-6 win as Jeff Christy drove in 7 runs in the game while Travis Oosthoek, Michael Roberts, and Liles each scored 3 times. Barton lost a heart-breaker in the second contest, losing 9-8 in 8 innings of work. The Cougars rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 7th to force extra innings. Elson provided the excitement with a 2-out triple that scored Anthony Flores and Mark Newton.

Stats
Stats can be found on the Barton County website at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Next
March 23 vs Cloud County at Cougar Fields, 1 p.m.