Cougars drop pitcher's dual to Neosho County #GoBarton

Putting up 16 runs in their earlier game against host North Arkansas College, the Cougar bats went silent and suffered a 3-1 loss to Neosho County Community College.

After Barton tied the contest at one in the top of the seventh, the Panthers got the critical leadoff batter on board to begin the home half, delivering a one-out walk-off fence clearer to abruptly end the game.

Barton concludes the day 1-1 and will take on the pair of teams again on Saturday, returning to Forsyth High School in Forsyth, Missouri, for an 11:00 a.m. first pitch against North Arkansas College followed by Neosho County at approximately 1:00 p.m.

It took each team three innings to get their first hit as the Cougars' Jessica Morgan and the Panthers' Olivia Cummings kept the bats in check.

Barton finished with four hits in the game scattered across four players as Neosho County finished with six hits, none larger than leadoff batter Espy Daniels' second hit of the game producing the winning big fly.

Morgan, who pitched the first five innings, relieved Sydni Williams in the seventh following the Panthers' leadoff single to take the loss in 5.2 innings pitched of striking out seven, walking one, and one earned run.  Cummings kept the Barton bats in check on the four hits, striking out six, and walking two.

Lexi Dryden produced the lone Cougar run, delivering a clutch two-out RBI scoring Kayden Smith's leadoff single.  Kennedee Lara followed Smith with a single as Barton had three of their four hits in the inning, the only other hit was Jaysa Anderson breaking up the no-no leading off the fourth inning.