Bogart's Barth breaks Division II hitting streak

AUGUSTA - Augusta State catcher Sam Barth broke the NCAA Division II record for consecutive games with a hit on Wednesday.<br> <br> Barth, who surpassed the mark set by Lenoir-Rhyne&#39;s Craig Sizemore, hit a single against Paine College to extend the streak to 48 games.<br> <br> ``As soon as I hit it I knew,&#39;&#39; said Barth, of Bogart, Ga. ``It was an elephant lifted off my shoulders.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Barth ended last season by hitting in 34 straight games and has continued the streak into this year. He led the Peach Belt Conference in hitting last season with a .400 average and entered the contest hitting .469 with 15 RBIs.<br> <br> Barth equaled Sizemore&#39;s mark with two hits against Lander on Sunday. Sizemore set the record in 2001-2002.