LYNCHBURG, Va. - Bridgewater and Lynchburg
played 23 innings of baseball Saturday with the Hornets winning the
opener 8-4 in 10 innings while the second game ended in a 0-0 tie
due to darkness after 13 innings.
The Eagles got on the board in the opener with a run in the
fourth. Andy Chrismer and Brett Howell opened the inning with
singles and both advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt. Chrismer
scored on a groundout by Drew Elkins for a 1-0 BC lead.
Lynchburg tied the score with a run in the bottom of the fifth
and the score remained tied at 1-1 until the seventh.
Bridgewater scored in the top of the seventh to go on top. Alex Nuttycombe singled with one out and Devon Snow bunted for a single
to put two runners on. Drew Easter grounded into a fielder's choice
for the second out, but Mitchell Edwards delivered a two-out single
to score Nuttycombe for a 2-1 Eagles' lead.
BC starter Alex Foltz retired the first batter in the bottom of
the seventh, but three consecutive singles by the Hornets tied the
score and sent the game into extra innings.
The Eagles regained the lead in the ninth. Blake Stokely led off
the inning with a double and moved to third on Nuttycombe's
sacrifice bunt. Snow plated Stokely with a single and moved into
scoring position on the throw to the plate. Snow scored on a
throwing error, giving the Eagles a 4-2 lead.
Once again the Hornets battled back to stay alive. With two
outs, Daniel Haugh belted a two-out, two run double to tie the
score again, this time at 4-4.
Lynchburg ended the game in the 10th when Matt Painter belted a
walk-off grand slam for an 8-4 victory.
In the second game, BC starter Casey Hartman and Lynchburg's
Ryan McDonough matched zeroes for nine innings. Freshman Joseph Lucas added four more shutout innings but the Eagles were unable to
push across the winning run.
Bridgewater had its best opportunity in 12th when Blake Stokely
was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Stokely stole second and
moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Elkins. Edwards grounded out
and Snow lined out to center to end the threat.
