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BRIDGEWATER, Va. - After dropping a 5-2 decision in the opener, the 24th-ranked Bridgewater Eagles softball team stormed back for an 8-0 victory in six innings in the nightcap to salvage a sweep with the visiting Greensboro Pride in non-conference action at the BC Softball Field.
Bridgewater's bats came alive in the nightcap after being stymied in game one with the Eagles tallying a single run in the first to take an early advantage.
Following a pair of outs to start the bottom of the first, a Leigh Lam double to right put a runner in scoring position for the Eagles. Lam was driven in during the ensuing at bat when Melanie Lamb singled to put the Eagles up 1-0 after an inning of play.
Both teams threatened in the second but couldn't salvage a run before the Eagles tacked another run on the board in the third.
Lam walked on four straight pitches to open the third before being sacrificed to second on a Lamb bunt to put a runner in scoring position with one away.
Two batters later, catcher Sarah Heretick drilled a 1-0 pitch to left field to score Lam, extending the Bridgewater lead to 2-0.
Bridgewater exploded in the fourth after Jenkins held the Pride scoreless in the top part of the frame when junior Sarah Goodman reached on a lead-off walk and was then replaced by Morgan Williams who entered the game in centerfield.
Following a strikeout, shortstop Hillary Rees stung an 0-2 pitch to second base, putting runners on the corners for the Eagles with one out.
Rees and Williams both advanced a base on a wild pitch before a fielder's choice from Kasey Anderson drove in Williams to extend the lead to 3-0.
Lam pushed in Rees from third on a sacrifice bunt to build a four-run Eagles lead until a Lamb double to left drove in Anderson, pushing the Bridgewater lead to 5-0.
Freshman Amanda Lutz entered for Lamb in a pinch running role and was driven in off of a Jenkins double to right center to hand Bridgewater a 6-0 lead after four complete.
Both teams went down without a run in the fifth and Jenkins stymied the Pride in the sixth to keep the game at a 6-0 Bridgewater advantage as the contest headed to the bottom of the sixth.
Rees led off the inning with a double before an Anderson single pushed Rees to third, putting runners on the corners for the Eagles.
Following an Anderson stolen base, Lam stung a ball up the middle, plating Rees and Anderson to end the game with Bridgewater earning an 8-0 victory in six innings.
Rees, Lam and Lamb each posted two-hit games for the Eagles in the nightcap with Lam pacing the way with three RBI. Lamb also chipped in two RBI in the win.
Jenkins was again superb in the circle, tossing her seventh shutout of the season. The Locust Grove, Va. native tossed a four-hit shutout across six innings of work to earn her 10th win of the year. With her seven shutouts, Jenkins is tied for second on the single season Bridgewater list, matching her total from the entire 2011 season.
Four Greensboro players tallied a hit each in the loss while Hannah Pennell picked up the loss in the circle allowing six runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of action.
Both teams were held off of the scoreboard over the first three innings of the opener before the Pride got on the board with a three-run fourth.
Greensboro put runners at first and second with two outs before shortstop Brittany Teer drilled a pitch over the centerfield fence to put the Pride ahead 3-0.
Bridgewater responded with a two-run bottom of the inning to carve the Greensboro lead to a single run after four complete.
Following a groundout to lead off the inning, junior Melanie Lamb was hit by a pitch to put a runner at first with one away.
Lamb advanced to second and third on back-to-back passed balls before a single to shortstop from the bat of Heather Jenkins pushed Lamb home, cutting the Greensboro advantage to 3-1.
Two batters later, sophomore Brea Hinegardner singled up the middle, driving in Jenkins in the process, to chip the Greensboro lead to 3-2 after four innings of play.
In the top of the seventh, Greensboro tagged two more runs on the board to finalize the scoring at a 5-2 tally.
Hinegardner and Jenkins paced the Bridgewater bats in the opener with a pair of two-hit performances.
Junior Aven Thomas picked up the loss in the circle, going the distance while allowing five runs on eight hits. Thomas struck out nine batters in the loss.
Catcher Hayley Hicks paced the Pride at the plate in the opener with a 3-for-4 effort, while the Greensboro pitching staff kept the Eagles off balance at the plate.
Starting pitcher Jackie Nicholson picked up the win for the Pride, tossing the first four innings while allowing two runs on three hits. Reliever Kelsey Sanfilippo tossed the final three innings for the Pride, allowing no runs on two hits to pick up the three-inning save.
Bridgewater is back in action on Saturday when Randolph comes to town. First pitch against the WildCats is set for 2 p.m.
