Barton softball completes season sweep over Garden City behind run-rule victories #GoBarton

The Barton Community College softball team completed its season series sweep Wednesday over Garden City Community College in a pair of five inning shortened contests 11-2 and 10-0.

The Cougars jumped on the Broncbusters with five first inning runs in the opener, leading 11-0 into the fifth before a pair of solo home runs broke up the shutout. In game two of the twin bill, an eight run second frame blew open the contest in cruising to its four-game season series sweep.

Barton improves to 13-3 in conference play and 20-13 overall while Garden City falls to 5-13 and 11-24 on the year.

The Cougars next travel to Liberal for a 1:00 p.m. Saturday doubleheader at Seward County Community College with its next home contest coming on Wednesday in hosting Pratt Community College.

Jenna Henderson had a solid day in the circle and at the plate, earning the game one victory improving to 4-8 behind six strikeouts and 3 RBIs from the plate including a solo home run. Moving to first base for the nightcap, Henderson again went 2-of-2 from the plate, again drove in three runs, and again launched a home run bringing the sophomore's total to four fence clearers on the year.

Henderson was joined by Laci Dryden in collecting four hits each as the duo on near opposite ends of the lineup combined for eight of the Cougars' twenty-one hits.

Dryden began her day giving Barton their first lead of the day in the home half, belting a one-out full-count pitch over the right field fence for her first collegiate home run. Dryden would follow with a double to the warning track at her next at-bat before driving in her eighth run of the year on a fourth inning single. In game two the freshman again produced Barton's first run by sending a double a the fence before speeding around the remaining two bases on a wild pitch.

Jaysa Anderson had a pair of hits in the opener including her 8th home run of the year in leading off the fourth frame before roping a second inning triple in the nightcap extending her consecutive game with a hit streak to 26 straight.

Earning the victory in game two, Sydni Williams struck out three with no walks and scattering four hits improving to 4-1 on the season. Williams collected a pair of hits in the twin bill including helping her cause with a double in scoring on Anderson's triple.

Game One Recap
Barton's five run opening inning of the day featuring Dryden's home run also included Kayden Smith and Henderson each delivering a two run producing double.

The Cougars tacked on two more in the second, Dryden's double rounding the bases on Calli McConnell's RBI double before scoring on Anderson's fielder's choice.

Henderson's lined home run opened up and plated Barton's lone run of the third as the Cougars would tack on three more in the fourth. Anderson's deep fly began the inning with Leslie Ramos' one-out triple scoring on a wild pitch. Following Ireland Cotton's single and Halie Stoneking's reach on an error, Dryden delivered her second RBI with a single capping her 3-for-4 opener.

The shutout was spoiled by back-to-back home runs in the top of the final fifth frame, Kelsi Gaston leading off with her first collegiate dinger with Savanna Greibling following with her fifth of her sophomore campaign.

Game Two Recap
Dryden's double in scoring on a wild pitch was Barton's lone run in the first inning but the second frame sent twelve to the plate resulting in eight runs.

Henderson's two-run big fly put the first two runs on the board with Makenzie Haslett's walk, Cotton's single and Dryden's walk loading the bases with one-out. Two pitches later the lead grew to seven as McConnell blasted her 8th home run in grand slam style. Williams kept the fun rolling with her ninth double of the year easily scoring on Anderson's screamer down the first base line for a triple in scoring shortly after on a wild pitch.

After a quiet third inning, Williams would cross the dish again after getting plunked on a pitch to score on Henderson's carpet scorcher through the infield and continuing across the plate on the Broncbuster's eighth error of the day.