SALINA — It wasn’t the most condusive weather for a pair of softball games. But the Barton Community College softball team wasn’t about to allow the weather to keep it from continuing its best start in several years. The Cougars rolled to a pair of easy wins at Brown Mackie College Friday afternoon.
The Cougars won the opener 11-1 then completed the sweep with a 14-2 win to improve to 8-0 this season. The Cougars were slated to head to Texas this weekend for a tournament at Frank Phillips but weather wiped that off the schedule.
“It was definitely two cold games,” Barton assistant coach Anna Voss said. “We didn’t play our best, but we pushed through. We’re still working through some of our kinks.”
Barton scored five runs in the opening two innings to take a 5-1 lead in the first game and were never threatened.
Brianna Ward and Holly Posegate had big games at the plate. Ward drove in three runs on three hits while Posegate went 4-for-5 with three RBI of her own on the strength of two doubles. Lili Ertman had an interesting game walking all four plate appearances and scoring all four times.
Taylor Bugner threw seven innings for the Cougars allowing just three hits and the one run. She walked four and struck out five to earn the win.
Barton broke the second game open with a 4-run third to take a 6-0 lead. Freshman catcher Caitlin Garcia laced a bases-loaded double to left scoring all three runners. She scored two batters later on one of four hits from Bailey Hensley.
Hensley made it 8-2 in the fifth with a 2-run homer - her team-leading fourth of the season. The hitting barrage continued in the sixth and final inning as Barton scored six times.
Hensley had five RBI on her four hits to lead the Cougars. Garcia ended with four RBI. Posegate was again productive at the plate going 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
Posegate was just as good pitching as the freshman from Colorado allowed just three hits and one earned run to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Barton will travel to Fort Scott Wednesday for two games then are back at home Thursday for two against the Sterling JV. Barton will open Jayhawk West play in one week when Colby visits March 1.