Nine run inning propels Barton softball to 13-2 non-conference rout

Barton Community College softball team stepped out of conference play Saturday evening taking care of the junior varsity squad from Sterling College 13-2 in a game shortened five innings.  Scheduled for a pair of games, inclement weather forced the cancellation of game two as the Lady Cougars led 2-0 in the top of the second.   The trip to Sterling concluded a three win two loss four-day road stretch for Barton improving to 29-15 on the season heading into Wednesday's conference battle for third place with Garden City Community College.  The Lady Cougars, 10-10 in the Jayhawk West, host the Broncbusters sitting at 9-9 and 23-22 on the season in a 3:00 p.m. first pitch doubleheader at Cougar Field.  

Briana Ward, Kylie Everill, and Caitlin Garcia had perfect 3-for-3 games leading a sixteen hit attack by the Lady Cougars while Holly Posegate shut down the Warriors on two hits and five strikeouts improving to 13-7 on the season. 

Consecutive singles by Bailey Hensley and Ward opened up the first and after an Erica Harper fielder's choice erasing Hensley from the path, Everill delivered a 0-2 pitch single to left field giving Barton the first inning lead. 

Ward and Everill struck again producing the next runs as Ward led off the third with a single and after Harper reached on fielder's choice, Everill stuck a triple down the left field line for a three-run lead.  Singles from Jenna Hosey and Garcia preceded McKenna Mauler's lone hit of the game, a RBI double to center.   Hensley picked up the second of her two hits driving in two runs with a single to center before Ward's RBI hit to the right side pushed across the Lady Cougars sixth run of the inning.  One pitch later the lead grew by three as Harper blasted her 18th homerun of the season for the reigning three-time conference player of the week staking Barton out to a 10-0 lead.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Warriors in the fourth as consecutive sacrifices cut Barton's lead to 10-2.

Pinch hitter Brooke Panning opened the fifth with a walk followed by Harper's second hit of the contest a single to right field.  Abby Tipton reached on a fielder's choice and after a Samantha White fielder's choice, Hosey drove in her two runs of the day with a single to center.  One out later Garcia drove in her single run with a shot up the middle extending the lead out to 13-2.