WNCC baseball fall to Barton on Feb. 24

                GREAT BEND, Kan. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Barton Community College on Friday.

                The Cougars led 4-1 in game one before suffering a 5-4 setback. Game two was close early before Barton erupted for three sixth-inning runs to down the Cougars 7-2.

                In the opener, WNCC jumped all over Barton by scoring three times in the first inning and once in the second for a 4-1 lead. The first inning was highlighted by a two run-scoring double by Nick Vanthillo.

                Barton came back in the third inning with three runs as the first four batters all had singles. Barton used that quick start to go ahead 5-4, WNCC had a chance to go ahead in the seventh as Vanthillo led off with a single and then Josh Bride walked. Both runners were stranded in scoring position as the Barton got the last two outs.

                Jeff Schmitt took the loss in going all seven innings, while allowing seven hits and five runs. He also struck out two and walked two.

                Offensively, the Cougars had six hits. Vanthillo and Max Brennan each had two hits.

                In the second game, Barton's Niccolo Loardi kept the Cougars at by tossing a 3-hitter and striking out seven in six innings to earn Barton the doubleheader swept.

                WNCC took a 2-1 lead after 1 1/2 innings as Bride ripped a double to score Vanthillo. Bride later came around to score on a ground out to put WNCC in front.

                Barton, however, came back with a single run in the bottom of the second before plating two more in the third and three in the sixth for the 7-2 win.

                Terry McNabb took the loss on the mound, going five innings in allowing six hits and walking four. Trevor Kriesel pitched one inning in allowing three runs on one hit.

                WNCC managed just three hits in the contest compared to seven for Barton.

                Both squads will have a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. (CST) before playing a 9-inning game on Sunday.

First Game

WNCC                   310 000 0 -- 4 6 3

Barton                  104 000 x -- 5 7 8

LP -- Jeff Schmitt; 2B -- Nick Vanthillo

Second Game

WNCC                   020 000 0 -- 2 3 4

Barton                  112 003 x -- 7 7 0

LP -- Terry McNabb; 2B -- Jose Gonzalez, Josh Bride.