Bats Power #11 Seward Past Barton

Going into Friday's double header with visiting Barton, it was the Lady Cougars offensive numbers that were at the top of the Jayhawk West charts, not the Lady Saints.  However, Seward changed that trend in the twinbill, hammering out 16 hits in a 10-4 win in the first game and pounding out 10 more in game two to sweep the double header with an 8-3 victory. 

It didn't take Seward County long to get going in the first game as a one out bunt single from Andrea Sitter started the action and a Barton error allowed the first Lady Saint run to score to make it 1-0 Seward.  After a single from Becky Allen, Danielle Orr launched a double to right center to score two runs to make it 3-0 and Vanessa Oakden followed with a single to score Orr to make it 4-0 at the end of 1. 

Seward was back at it in the 2^nd, this time using a two out rally to push runs across.  Allen doubled for her second hit of the game to score Seward's fifth run of the game and three pitches later Orr went deep over the right field wall to give the Lady Saints a commanding 7-0 lead. 

The Lady Saints added another run in the bottom of the 3^rd as Tiffanie Bolanos led off with a single and scored later in the inning on a two out single from Marissa Chavez to make it 8-0 Seward. 

Barton scored their first runs of the day in the 4^th, getting a two out single for run number one and a two run home run two pitches later to jump back into the game at 8-3. 

Seward loaded the bases with one out in the 5^th inning, but a tailor made double play ball killed the rally to keep the score 8-3. 

In the top of the 6^th Barton inched closer, using a leadoff double and a one out double to score a run to make it 8-4. 

The Lady Saints added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the 6^th as Bolanos ripped an RBI single through the hole at short and Chavez walked with the bases loaded to extend their lead to 10-4. 

Seward pitcher Katelyn Craker walked the first two hitters of the Barton 7^th, but settled down after that, getting the next three batters out to finish out the game to give the Lady Saints a 10-4 win in the opener. 

The Lady Saints slugged 16 hits in the win as eight of nine starters finished with at least one hit.  Chavez finished 3 for 4 with 2 RBI's at the top of the lineup while Sitter and Allen collected 3 hits each as well in the victory.  Orr was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI's and 2 runs scored and Bolanos was 2 for 4 with a pair of runs scored.  Craker earned the win in the circle, going the distance and allowing 7 hits and 4 runs while striking out 8. 

#11 SEWARD COUNTY/BARTON GAME ONE BOX SCORE

The Lady Saints were the first to score in game two as well as in the bottom of the 1^st Chavez led off with a single and scored two batters later as Pokey Ewell ripped a shot to center to put Seward in front 1-0. 

Barton struck back with a run of their own in the top of the 2^nd, getting a leadoff double and sac fly two batters later to even the game at 1-1. 

The Lady Saints answered with a  big frame in their half of the 2^nd as Oakden walked to start the inning and Bolanos doubled to put runners on second and third with nobody out.  Vogelaar singled to score Oakden and Bolanos scored a short time later on a sac fly from Carmen Hughes to put the Lady Saints up 3-1.  Later in the inning a Barton error and an RBI single from Sitter made it 5-1 Seward and a double to the wall from Allen scored two more to blow the game open to 7-1. 

Neither team scored in the 3^rd and Barton got a run back in the 4^th on a two out single to make it 7-2 and that is where the score remained into the bottom of the 5^th. 

In the Seward 5^th Orr ripped another double for the Lady Saints with one out and once again Bolanos came through in the clutch, this time with an RBI single to push Orr across to make it 8-2 Lady Saints. 

Lady Saint starting pitcher Brittany Hopkins quieted the Barton bats in the 6^th with a quick inning to keep the score 8-2. 

Barton got a run in the 7^th, but it was too little too late as the Lady Saints hung on for the 8-3 victory to sweep the double header.  

The two teams combined for 19 hits from 16 different players in the game.  Sitter and Bolanos each had 2 hits for the Lady Saints while Chavez scored a pair of runs at the top of the Seward order.  Hopkins went the whole way in the circle for the Lady Saints to earn the win.  The sophomore righty allowed 9 hits and 3 runs while punching out 4 Barton batters. 

#11 SEWARD COUNTY/BARTON GAME TWO BOX SCORE

Seward moves to 21-4 overall on the year with the two victories and ties Butler atop the Jayhawk West standings at 4-2.  Barton falls to 11-5 overall on the year and drops back even at 2-2 in league action. 

Next up for the Lady Saints will be their annual Spring Break trip to Phoenix, Arizona.  Seward will battle South Mountain and Lake Region State on Monday followed by double headers with Glendale and Mesa on Wednesday and Thursday.