The Barton Community College softball team opened the season Tuesday at Cougar Fields with a pair of losses to Cloud County. 
The Cougars pounded out 10 hits in Game 1 but stranded 11 base runners in losing 7-3, and in Game 2, the Cougars committed five errors as Cloud scored at least two runs in each of the first four innings to close out the doubleheader 10-0 in five innings. 
Cloud, which opened the season last weekend going 1-2, built a 3-0 advantage after scoring runs in the first and third innings.
The Lady Cougars were able to draw within one in the bottom of the fourth behind a two-out, two-RBI single by Larned’s Kristin Schartz.
Cloud struck back in the top of the fifth as Amanda Bekemeyer launched a two-run blast over the center-field wall to put the T-birds back in charge at 5-2. 
Barton looked to get back into the game in the bottom of the sixth as Aleeya Ybarra singled home Kaytlin Sutherland to cut the deficit to one.
Barton could not push any more runs across despite having two on with one out. 
Cloud extended their lead to four in the top of the seventh as Bekemeyer blasted a second two-run home run and The Thunderbirds went on to win the first game 7-3.
Despite having only one hit out of the infield, Cloud was able to push two runs across in the first inning. 
Cloud would go on to score two in the second and fourth innings while scoring four in the third to take command of the game. 
Unlike the first game where Barton drove in 10 hits, the Cougars couldn’t manage a hit until Alex Rodriquez’s fourth inning two-out single.
Barton will return to the field on Thursday as they travel to Pratt for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.

Barton men home opener
set for Saturday
The Barton baseball team will host McCook of Nebraska on Saturday and Sunday — weather permitting.
The two teams will play two seven-inning games with the first beginning at 2 p.m.
Sunday’s game will be nine innings beginning at 1 p.m.
The Cougars are 3-1 after sweeping Western Texas College and splitting games with Odessa last week.