By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Blue Dragon softball team swept the Barton Cougars in a Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference doubleheader Wednesday at Fun Valley.
The Blue Dragons won the first game 6-0 and the second game 6-2.
In Game 1, Hutchinson jumped out to a 6-0 lead with one run in the bottom of the first inning, four runs in the third and one run in the fourth.
Hutchinson pitcher Morgan Tomlinson pitched 6 2/3 innings in the opener and allowed four hits. She struck out four, walked none and improved her record to 11-2.
Tomlinson was replaced on the mound in the top of the seventh inning by Jessica Schmidt with two outs and two Barton runners on base. Schmidt coerced a force for the final out.
Hutchinson scored six runs on nine hits. Bailey Backhaus and Tailor Golly both went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Blue Dragons. Bailey Backhaus had two RBIs. Brie Brawner drew two walks.
Melia Ingram and Alicia Goseland split pitching duties for the Cougars, with Goseland dropping to 10-4.
In Game 2, Hutchinson trailed 2-1 after four innings. Gabby Stauffer drove in the run for the Blue Dragons on a fielder’s choice.
Hutchinson scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead over the Barton Cougars. Kaibryn Kruger belted a two-run homer and Bailey Backhaus had an RBI triple.
HutchCC added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Aubree Thomas and Schmidt shared pitching duties for the Blue Dragons. Thomas improved to 8-2.
Brooklynn Angielski and Goseland pitched for Barton, with Angielski dropping to 8-4.
HutchCC collected nine hits. Bailey Backhaus had three hits for HutchCC with a double and triple and drove in a run. Kaibryn Kruger homered and drove in three runs.
Stauffer and Hailey Kruger also had RBIs. Bailey Backhaus and Kaibryn Kruger had stolen bases.
Barton picked up eight hits, including three by Karter Alvord and two each by Chloe Enslinger and Elina Bartlett. Alvord drove in both Cougar runs. Enslinger and Bartlett doubled.
Hutchinson improved to 21-5 overall, 14-1 KJCCC, 12-1 at home and has 12 straight wins.
Barton dropped to 19-9 overall, 13-3 KJCCC, 9-4 on the road and has lost three straight games.
Hutchinson plays a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at Pratt Community College.
The Blue Dragons host a 1 p.m. doubleheader next Wednesday against Fort Hays Tech Northwest. HutchCC plays a 1 p.m. doubleheader Friday, April 4, at Butler Community College.
Barton plays a 1 p.m. doubleheader Sunday at Seward County and hosts 1 p.m. doubleheaders against Colby Wednesday and Garden City Saturday, April 5.