LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — A rally in the first game propelled the Metropolitan Community College-Longview baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of Barton on Saturday.
The Cougars held a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, but surrendered a two-out, two-run single to drop the first game 3-2. The Lakers carried the momentum into Game 2, scoring four in the first and 10 in the third to win 15-4.
With the two non-conference losses, Barton dropped to 12-24 on the season, while the Lakers improve to 17-13. The two teams will play another doubleheader today, starting at 1 p.m.  
An Erik Benson two-out single to left field scored Pete Ruiz for the Cougars, giving them a 1-0 lead in the top of the third.
Dylan Farrell led off for MCC-Longview in the fourth with a triple to right field, tying the game on a Brandon Dulin sacrifice fly.
Barton responded in the fifth as Benson scored from first base on a Jace Bowman double.
Giving up two walks to begin the bottom of the seventh, Craig Nicks nearly held the Lakers at bay, getting a sacrifice out and a strikeout. Nicks then walked Farrell, setting up a Dulin two-out, two-run single up the middle, giving the Lakers the come-from-behind win.
Nicks took the loss for the Cougars, pitching the last 1 2/3 innings to fall to 1-4 on the season. Ryan Spry pitched the last 2 2/3 innings for the Lakers to earn his first win this season.
The Lakers scored four unearned runs in the first inning of Game 2, all coming with two outs against Barton pitcher Skylar Hill.
MCC-Longview chased Hill and three other pitchers after three innings by putting up 10 runs, taking a 14-0 lead.
Aaron Gile led off for Barton in the fourth with a single to right field. Dylan Turpin and Nate Train followed with walks.
After a Tito Andino strikeout, Caleb Cherryholmes’ bases-loaded single to right gave the Cougars their first run.
MCC-Longview answered in the home half of the fourth behind two doubles, with Ian Barker driving in Brett Graham.
Barton tried to mount a comeback in the fifth inning, starting with a one-out double by Bowman followed by Gile’s third hit of the day, a single to right.
The Cougars scored three in the inning, but not enough as the Lakers held on for the 15-4 run-rule victory.
Hill dropped to 1-2 on the season giving up four earned runs as MCC-Longview scored 10 in chasing him out of the game. Thomas Boucher earned the win for the Lakers, pitching four innings of to improve to 2-0 on the season.