Cougars' comeback spoiled by Hutchinson walk-off #GoBarton #RoarCougs

The Barton Community College baseball team trailed all Tuesday night until the ninth inning but a rally by Hutchinson Community College in the home half provided a walk-off 3-2 non-conference victory at Hobart-Detter Field.

Barton drops to 29-18 on the year with Hutchinson improving to 32-16.

The Cougars will look to snap a three game slide in the season with a pair of nine inning contests versus Hesston College beginning at 5:00 p.m. Thursday on the Larks home field followed by a return trip to Lawson-Biggs Field slated for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Barton managed just six hits with three coming in the final frame as Harrison Denk led off with a deep blast into the left field corner for a standup double. Moving to third on a wild pitch, Denk scooted home to break the scoreboard goose egg on Noah Geekie's good wood to deep center for the sacrifice fly at-bat.

The Cougars again peppered left field with consecutive doubles, Carson Zenger resetting the bases before Andrew Stewart put Barton out front in driving in the go-ahead run.

A leadoff single and one-out wild pitch spelled trouble for reliever Joe Richter (4-2) as a double to left center knotted the contest up. Intentionally walking the next batter to create a force-out opportunity, another wild pitch wiped away the plan. Forced to draw in the infield with the winning runner just ninety feet away, a high chopper left Stewart with a do or die fielding play resulting unfortunately for the Cougars a Blue Dragon walk-off victory.

Patrick McClure gave the Cougars five quality innings to begin the game, scattering three hits and striking out six.

Two of Hutchinson's hits off McClure led to a lone second inning run with a leadoff single scoring on a botched pick-off play trying to erase a two-out single.

Coleton Crisp put two innings on the hill striking out three while Jacob Ensz pitched a scoreless eighth inning.