Dodge City baseball capped the series with Barton with a twinbill at home, and the Conquistadors split the day with a doubleheader that was similar to Thursday's action, featuring a close first game and more separation in game two.
The Conqs flipped the script in game one at home on Thursday by holding off Barton to earn a 7-5 win, and then in the series finale, the Conqs' offense struggled to really get going, falling 9-2.
The 1-1 day moves the Conqs to 14-23 on the season and 3-13 in KJCCC action.
Game 1 – Won 7-5 vs Barton
The Conqs fell behind early on the day as Barton sent eight to the plate in the first inning and tallied a pair of runs, but also left the bases loaded. In the third, Barton tacked on another run to lead 3-0, but in the bottom of the third, the Conqs had four hits and tallied three runs to draw even in the contest. RBI doubles from
Angel Vazquez and
Ben Longoria highlighted the three-run third for the Conqs. In the fifth, the Conqs grabbed their first lead on the day as they scored four runs on two hits, a walk, a hit batter, and a Barton error. After blanking the Cougars in the sixth, the Conqs needed just three outs to secure the win, and the Cougars made a late push, getting a pair of runs in the seventh, but the Conqs shut the door, earning the 7-5 win.
Hunter Morgan paced the Conqs offense, going 3-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while five other Conqs had a hit in the contest.
On the mound,
Lane French had a solid outing as the starter, going 3.2 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out three.
Aydin Ruiz earned the win in relief, throwing 3.1 innings, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk, while striking out three.
Game 2 – Lost 9-2 vs Barton
The series finale, just like the other games in the series, saw Barton grab an early lead, putting the Conqs behind from the start. Barton tallied four runs as the first four batters of the game reached base safely. The Conqs cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs as
Will Soto notched a double, then scored on an RBI triple from
Preston Harrison, while Harrison scored on an RBI single from
Saul Coronado. Barton countered in the top of the third using five hits to score three runs, then added two more in the fourth to lead 9-2.
Sam Spencer entered out of the bullpen for the Conqs in the fifth and stymied the bats of Barton the rest of the way, but the Conqs over the final four innings managed just four runners of their own, unable to come back, falling 9-2.
A multi-hit game by Harrison and Vazquez paced the Conqs offensively in the loss. Harrison was 2-3 with a run scored, a triple, and an RBI, while Vazquez was 2-4 with a double.
Spencer, in relief, was the most effective Conq on the mound, throwing scoreless five innings, giving up just one hit and one walk, while striking out two.
