It was just what the Barton softball team needed. A sweep to open Jayhawk West play.
The Cougars, when they have been able to play around weather issues, had struggled in the early stages of the 2018 season.
So picking up a sweep of Dodge City Wednesday afternoon at Cougar Fields was indeed a welcome happening.
The Cougars won the opener in the bottom of the seventh inning, 9-8, then wrapped up a 14-6 win in five innings in the nightcap.
Barton has now won three straight after dropping its first nine games of the season and are 2-0 in the West. Dodge City is 2-6 in the conference and 7-11 overall.
The winning run came across in the seventh with one out when Morgan Michaelis singled in Kat Frakes from third. Frakes had doubled to lead off the inning.
That was just the conclusion of a very entertaining game. The lead changed hands five times before the Cougars were able to earn the win.
For Michaelis it was her third hit of the game and her second RBI. Frakes also had three hits in the win as did Alexis Sharples. Sharples had a pair of doubles.
Emma Horsch picked up the win on the mound, going all seven innings with four strike outs.
In the nightcap, Andreana Reynolds had a huge game for the Cougars. The sophomore catcher finished the day a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, double and seven RBI.
Frakes again had three hits – two of them doubles – while Hailey Pop scored four times. Nasadiya Salazar belted a solo homer in the game.
Allison Panning threw four innings in the run-rule contest to pick up the win. She is now 2-3 on the season.
The Cougars will look to keep their momentum going when they travel to Pratt Friday for two more West games.
Game 1
Barton 9, Dodge City 8
Dodge 113 120 0 – 8 6 2
Barton 204 110 1 – 9 16 4
Segovia, McDaniel (1) and Botts; Horsch and Michaelis. W – Horsch (1-5). L – McDaniel. 2B – Gonzalez, McDaniel, Brallier, Dodge City; Sharples (2), Frakes, Michaelis, Barton. 3B – Garcia, Best, Dodge.
Game 2
Barton 14, Dodge City 6
Dodge 003 30 – 6 5 0
Barton 364 01 – 14 14 4
Segovia, Kendall (2) and Botts; Panning, Frakes (5) and Reynolds. W – Panning (2-3). L – Segovia. 2B – Brallier, Dodge; Frakes (2), Reynolds, Barton. 3B – Gonzalez, Barton. HR – Reynolds, Salazar, Barton.