SALEM, Va. - After dropping the first half of a
twinbill with the Roanoke Maroons (21-4, 5-3 ODAC) by a 5-3 score,
the Bridgewater Eagles (16-5, 5-3 ODAC) unleashed a four-run
explosion in the second inning of game two to earn a split in an
ODAC softball showdown at the Moyer Complex in Salem, Va.
Game one saw the Eagles jump out to a 2-0 lead before four
Bridgewater fielding errors allowed too many opportunities for
Roanoke as the Eagles eventually fell by a 5-3 score.
Bridgewater got things started quickly in the first game when an
Aven Thomas double plated Hillary Rees to put the Eagles ahead 1-0.
Two batters later, Bridgewater added an insurance run when a
Lauren Childress single plated Thomas to give the Eagles a 2-0
advantage.
Roanoke answered in the first with a run of their own before
also tallying a run in the bottom of the second and third innings
to take a 3-2 lead after three frames.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, Roanoke plated a run in the
bottom of the fifth and sixth to put the Eagles at a 5-2
disadvantage heading into the seventh.
In the top of the seventh, junior Kristen Combs got things
started in a big way with a home run to cut the Maroons lead to
5-3.
Bridgewater was able to tally two more hits in the inning to put
the winning run at the plate with one out, but the Eagles couldn't
manufacture another run as they fell to Roanoke by a 5-3 tally.
Four players led the Eagles with a hit apiece, with Thomas'
double and Combs' seventh-inning blast being the lone extra-base
hits for the Eagles.
In the circle, Heather Jenkins (4-2) picked up the loss. Jenkins
went the distance, allowing five runs on seven hits. Three of
Jenkins' five runs were earned as the Eagles committed four costly
errors.
Lisa Scruggs led the way for the Maroons with a 3-for-3 outing.
Scruggs plated a run, scored twice and also drew a walk.
Abigail Rexrode picked up the win in relief, tossing six innings
of work. Rexrode allowed one run off of three BC hits before being
replaced by Kelsey Ruitenberg who recorded the final two outs to
pick up her fourth save of the year.
The loss for the Eagles snapped a seven-game winning streak.
Game two started with a scoreless first inning before the Eagles
offense came alive in the top of the second inning with four runs.
Childress led off the second with a single before an Angela
Spinelli single put runners at first and second for the Eagles.
Combs put the Eagles on the scoreboard a batter later with a
single of her own, driving in Childress to put BC ahead 1-0.
Jenkins followed Combs' RBI single with a walk to load the bases
for the Eagles.
Bridgewater plated another run when a Sarah Heretick grounder to
third base drove in pinch runner Christy Barron to extend the
Eagles lead to 2-0.
The Eagles kept things rolling at the plate when a single from
centerfielder Leah Cossentino drove in the third run of the inning,
scoring Combs, and giving BC a 3-0 advantage.
Bridgewater rounded out its second inning scoring when a wild
pitch plated Jenkins from third base to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead
after two innings of play.
Following Bridgewater's monster second inning, both teams were
held off of the scoreboard for the next five innings as BC earned
the 4-0 victory.
At the plate, Cossentino led the way for Bridgewater with a
2-for-3 game. Cossentino also drove in a run during BC's four-run
second.
In the circle, senior Ashley Gills (7-1) went the distance,
tossing a four-hit shutout while also striking out three Maroon
batters. The shutout for Gills was her team-leading third of the
year, and moved her into a tie for fifth place all-time with 11
career shutouts.
Four players led the Maroons in game two with a hit each.
Ruitenberg picked up the loss in game two after allowing four
runs on four Bridgewater hits. The Maroons starter was replaced in
the second after recording only four outs.
Bridgewater is back in action on Good Friday when the Eagles
host Virginia Wesleyan. Friday's contest with the Marlins is slated
for a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.
