SALEM, Va. - Against a familiar Lynchburg Hornets team, the Bridgewater Eagles fell behind early before rallying back to bring the game to within one over the final innings. One run is as close as the game would get, as the Hornets held off the late Eagles charge as BC fell by a 4-3 tally in the opening game of the 2010 ODAC Softball Tournament.

Following a scoreless first inning from both teams, Bridgewater put two runners in scoring position but couldn't push a run across, to keep the game scoreless after an inning and a half.

Lynchburg took the early lead in the bottom of the second when a Meagen Fredenberg double just cleared the glove of Kristen Combs in left center, driving in two runs and putting the Hornets ahead at a 2-0 tally.

The Hornets added to their lead later in the inning when a single to centerfield from the bat of Audra Della Rosa drove another run in to push the score to 3-0.

Bridgewater answered in the third when an Angela Spinelli single to right field looked to load the bases before a pick-off play at second base allowed junior Emily Morris to advance home, cutting the Hornets lead to 3-1.

Lynchburg built its lead back to three when a RBI double to right field plated Jenny Carroll to put the Eagles down 4-1.

In the top of the fourth, BC responded with two runs to chip the Hornets lead to 4-3.

Sophomore Hillary Rees got the scoring started, when her double down the left field line scored freshman Heather Jenkins to cut the lead in half at a 4-2 tally.

Bridgewater cut the lead further when junior Leah Cossentino drove in Rees off of a single to right, to bring the score to 4-3 which is where the game would end, sending the Eagles to the loser's bracket.

At the plate, Rees and Cossentino led the way with two hits and a RBI each.

Senior Ashley Gills picked up the loss for the Eagles in the circle. Gills tossed two innings of work, allowing three runs on two hits while striking out three. With her three strikeouts, Gills became the career strikeouts leader with 338 punchouts.

Fellow senior Lindsay Lam tossed the final four innings for the Eagles, allowing one run on four hits and striking out four. 

Fredenburg led the Hornets at the plate with a 1-for-3 outing, with two RBI.

Lynchburg's Katie Bruce got the win for the Hornets. Bruce tossed all seven innings while allowing three runs on seven hits and striking out seven.

With the loss, the Eagles fall to the loser's bracket where they will take on Guilford at 5:00 p.m. on Friday at the Moyer Complex in Salem, Va.

Bridgewater was swept by the Quakers earlier in the year at Guilford.