Ingram's shutout performance advances Barton Softball to Region 6 winner's bracket final #GoBarton

Surrendering just one run in the 5-1 opening round victory over Colby just two hours prior, the Barton Community College softball team rode another dominate starting pitching performance on Friday evening in the second round of the Region 6 Tournament at Legends Field in Dodge City.

Freshman pitcher Meleia Ingram twirled her second straight complete-game shutout over the Blue Dragons, as the Cougars defeated Hutchinson Community College 2-0 in the second-round matchup.

Barton improves to 34-14 on the year and advances to tomorrow's winner's bracket final at 4:00 p.m. against No. 4 seeded Garden City Community College (28-20) after the Broncbusters upset the top-seeded Grizzlies of Butler Community College 4-2 in the game prior. Meanwhile Hutchinson falls to 36-10 on the season and drops to the backside backet in the double-elimination format to take on Dodge City Community College tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.

Ingram followed Brooklyn Angielski's earlier performance with four no-hit hit innings before allowing her first single in the sixth and pair in the seventh finishing with just three hits scattered with three walks, a hit batsman and six strikeouts.

The shutout marks Ingram's fourth of the season and second straight against the Blue Dragons coming just five days prior at Cougar Field in the 3-0 victory, snapping the Cougars 17-game losing streak to Hutchinson.

Barton outhit the Blue Dragons 4-3 with three of their hits coming in the opening two-innings and other lone hit on Mia Mascarenas leadoff fifth inning single.

Just like in their opening round victory over Colby, the Cougars manufactured all their runs in one inning once again scoring their pair in the top of the second.

Peyton McCormick drew a leadoff walk with Elina Bartlett following with the first of Barton's two-straight hits. Karter Alvord broke the scoreless tie with the eventual game winning two-run double on the ensuing pitch for the 2-0 lead.

Hutchinson put runners at third base just twice in the opening frame and the home seventh with Ingram buckling down working around the bases loaded one-out jam with back-to-back fielder's choices in preserving the shutout.