Barton Baseball drops conference opening series to Hutchinson #GoBarton

Barton and Hutchinson exploded on the opening weekend of Jayhawk Conference action, combining for 72 runs in the four game series. Featuring the predicted champion and runner-up in the West, the winner of the series took the early driver's seat in the chase for a conference title.

Unfortunately for Barton, Hutchinson got the best of the Cougars winning the series three games to one. Following Thursday's Barton 10-4 win, the Blue Dragons earned the split at Hobart-Detter Field with a 6-5 victory. Shifting locations to the Cougars' Lawson-Biggs Field, the Blue Dragons made the most of seven home runs for the doubleheader sweep winning 20-4 in five innings before a come-from-behind 14-13 victory in the series finale.

Dropping their first games at home in ten outings, Barton slips to 13-4 on the year while Hutchinson improves to 8-6.

Barton will look to rebound this weekend against Colby, who were picked to finish third in the Jayhawk West. The four-game set begins on Thursday in Colby with the back-end slated for Saturday on the Cougars' home turf. A 1:00 p.m. first pitch is scheduled at both locations.

Game One Recap:
Barton would score in the middle innings to pull away for the opening win. After giving up three runs in the bottom of the first, Connor Allen and Carson Scott would score on second-inning fly ball from Colter Maldonado.

Barton would take the lead in the third on a bases juiced situation. Alex Rodgers would advance a free base when Allen was hit by pitch. Connor Scott's single would score Micah Grover and Jordan Ellison to take the lead on the next play. Allen would tack on the final run of the inning, advancing on a groundout from Shawn Marquis.

Barton would add the icing on the cake in the fourth inning, with Grover advancing on a dropped third strike from Marquis and Ellison scoring on a passed ball.

After allowing four hits in the first inning, winning pitcher Graham Brunner would settle in on the mound, only allowing one more hit during his time at the mound. Ian Lanik would close out the final two innings, striking out five batters out of eight.

Game Two Recap:
Neither team could get any offensive firepower going in the first four innings. Neither team could get a runner to third, with Rodgers being picked in the only attempt for either team to reach third in the front half of the game.

Barton would break into the scoring column in the top of the 5th, when Scott would reach home on a Marquis groundout. Hutch would respond in the bottom frame, with the Blue Dragons loading the bases, and draining them for four runs through a Left field double and a bunt single.

Barton would cut the deficit in half when a Marquis single would score Scott in the top of the seventh. Barton would take a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth. Pracht would score on a single from Ellison, and an Allen bunt on the next play would score Grover. Ellison would complete his trip around the bases to take the lead on a passed ball.

Hutch would strike in the bottom frame to take the lead, when a single from Jack Torosian would score Drew Reetz and Sterling Sutcliffe. Barton could not respond in the top of the ninth, with the Cougars stranding Grover at first, who was hit by pitch.

Game Three Recap:
Having the back half of the series pushed back 25 hours due to rain all through Friday and Saturday, Hutch left the bus with their bats on fire. The Blue Dragons would clear the bases when a deep single from Jenner Steele would score three runs. The Hutch lead would swell to nine in the second inning, including a home run to score three Blue Dragons.

Barton would break into the scoring frame in the bottom frame, scoring four runs on a two-out rally. Ellison would score on Maldonado's fielder's choice to get the rally started. Joel Nieves would send a line drive to left, scoring Allen. Maldonado and Nieves would score on a lined right field double from Rodgers.

The Blue Dragons would deflate the Cougars hopes in the top of the third, with Hutch scoring three runs off an error and a single. Hutch would add another five off of two home runs and a triple before Barton could finish out the inning.

Barton would shuffle their lineup mid inning, and the Cougars would get early baserunners off of walks from Tanner Schrag and Austin Gerety. Barton would juice the bases with a Wade Reynolds walk, but Blue Dragons pitcher Sammy Sanchez would slam the door shut on a rally with two straight strikeouts.

The fourth inning would be quiet, with Hutch going down in order, and Barton stranding Rodgers at first. Hutch would tack on three more runs in the top of the fifth through a double and their fourth home run of the game to extend the lead to 16 runs. Barton would build some momentum, but Sanchez would grab two more strikeouts for the Blue Dragons to finish out the game.

Game Four Recap:
Barton jumped out to an early lead after one inning, with back-to-back home runs from Rodgers and Pracht answering Hutchinson's solo run in the top of the frame. Barton would extend that lead out in the second, scoring seven runs in the bottom frame. Caden Bressler and Peyton Sparks would have singles to start the scoring, followed up later in the inning with a Scott single, a Ellison double, and a Blue Dragons throwing error.

Hutchinson would tap in a gust off first base in the top of the third to cut deep into the Barton lead, with a three run homer off center field. Barton would only score one to bring the Cougars score up to double digits, when Bressler would score on a Pracht ground out.

The Blue Dragons would keep Barton scoreless for the next four innings, while Hutch would climb out of the lead slowly. Hutch would score off a single in the fourth, and score a run in the fifth as well. Hutch would tie the ball game in the top of the sixth with their sixth home run in the twin bill, and their seventh home run in the top of the seventh would put Hutch up two in a two-out rally. The Blue Dragons would extend the lead to four runs in the top of the eighth on another two-out rally in two consecutive singles.

Barton would head into the bottom of the eighth with a renewed focus, and a center field home run from Scott would score Rodgers and cut the Cougar deficit to two runs.

Barton would build momentum heading into the top of the ninth, sending the Blue Dragons down in order for the first time in the game. The Cougars rally fell short one run, only able to push the leadoff single from Allen around the bases.