WILSON, N.C.- Junior Adam Taylor’s 7^th inning homer lifted NGU past Barton 3-1 in game one, and The Bulldogs responded with a 9-3 win over NGU in game two as the two squads split a Conference Carolinas double-header Saturday afternoon in Wilson, North Carolina.

GAME ONE: North Greenville 3, Barton 1

Adam Taylor’s two run blast with 2 outs in the top of the 7^th broke a 1-1 tie, and gave the Crusaders a 3-1 lead over the Bulldogs. The homer proved to be the difference maker in Saturday’s first game as NGU took the win and the series.

Ryan Woodring started on the mound for NGU and went the distance for the Crusaders. Woodring (7-2) held the Bulldogs to 1 run on 6 hits. Woodring struck out 8 and walked just 1. He lead the Crusaders pitching staff with 52 strikeouts on the season.

Barton’s Kyle Norville (2-8) also went the distance Bulldogs but suffered the loss after Taylor’s two run homer in the last inning. Norville allowed 6 NGU hits and struck out 4.

Senior Derek Fulmer provided NGU with its first lead with an RBI-double to deep left field in the top of the fourth. Fulmer entered the month of April ranked third nationally in hits and increased his total to 63 base hits with three hits on the day.

Barton’s Clay Martin tied the game in the bottom of the 4^th inning with his first collegiate home run. The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the 7^th with after a 2 out double from Phillip Williams. Williams advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Woodring worked around the trouble and ended the game with his 8^th strikeout of the afternoon.

Taylor paced the Crusaders going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Senior Chris Rawlings led the Bulldogs with 2 hits.

GAME TWO: Barton 9, North Greenville 6

In game 2, the Bulldogs avoided the sweep with late inning magic. Barton scored 6 runs in the final two frames to take the 9-6 decision over the Crusaders. A late inning home run proved to be the difference in the game 1, and likewise in game two as Spires Miller’s three run blast proved to be the knockout punch.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. North Greenville tied the game with a three run third inning that was aided by a Barton error which led to 1 NGU run. The Crusaders then took the lead on a single by Taylor in the fourth. Senior Dylan Fulk’s first career homerun gave NGU a 6-3 lead.

The Bulldogs pulled to within 1 of NGU in the bottom of the 7^th with a 2 run blast from Collins Cuthrell. The Bulldogs 4 run 8^th prevented the sweep and completed Barton’s bounce back win. The late inning rally was sparked by a leadoff triple by Ryan Daughtry. After two straight outs, the Bulldogs reached base safely on two straight hits, including a 3 run homer, which gave Barton its second lead of the game.

The Crusaders went down in order in the top of the 9^th, giving Barton its 13^th win of the season. The Crusaders improved to 25-16 overall, and 14-7 in conference play after Saturday’s split.

Adam Taylor and Dylan Fulk led NGU at the plate, with 2-4 days. Fulk led the Crusaders with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI. North Greenville will return to action on April 10^th when they travel to Brevard for a non-conference midweek matchup. 

Game Two Box