Cougars open season with big win #GoBarton

The Cougars got off to a big start to the 2022 season with a five inning 16-2 victory over host North Arkansas College.

Due to Pioneer field conditions, the game was held and shifted the Cougars' four-games of the weekend to Forsyth High School in Forsyth, Missouri.

Barton had a trio of multiple run innings, pounding out 12 hits as starter Kayla Beers through four innings to earn the victory striking out six, walking just one, and surrendering all three hits in the Pioneers' two-run first inning.  Elizabeth Horsch pitched the final inning, pitching around a leadoff single in striking out one.

Jaysa Anderson led the offense with a 3-for-4 and two RBI Cougar debut out of the leadoff spot with Sydni Williams going 2-for-3 including driving in Barton's first two runs with a double. Returners Halie Stoneking, Adreanna Lance and Lexi Dryden also contributed a pair of RBI's each, Dryden drving in hers on a fourth inning double contributing to the Cougars' five-run frame.

The top three of the lineup set the stage helping produce a trio of runs in the first as Williams followed Anderson's leadoff hit and Cotton's walk with her first collegiate hit coming in two-bag style.

North Arkansas answered in the home half of the first as a leadoff single and double would score on a ground out and single.

Barton put together consecutive five run frames in the third and fourth inning.  Four hits highlighted by Stoneking two-run single pushed the lead to 8-2 as the Cougars punished the Pioneers with another five pack of plate crossers on two outs in the fourth highlighted by Dryden's double and Anderson's third hit.

The Cougars tacked on another trio of runs in the fifth on two outs as well, Lance producing a bases loaded RBI and two additional runs coming across on Dryden's misplayed fly ball to the outfield.