FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Bridgewater College softball team opened its season on Sunday with a pair of losses, 10-2 (five innings) and 5-1, during a doubleheader at Methodist.

Game one: Methodist 10, Bridgewater 2 (five innings)

Methodist (2-6) registered 16 hits and scored nine runs in the first three innings to claim a run-rule victory during game one against Bridgewater (0-2).

In the first inning, a grounder put the first run on the board and the Monarchs added another one with an RBI single up the middle.

The Eagles responded with a run in the second to cut the deficit to 2-1. Sophomore Carlita Tibbs singled to right center and made it all the way to third due to a fielding error in right field. With two outs, Freshman Courtney Maitland blasted a single to right center to plate Tibbs.

Nonetheless, Methodist tallied three straight RBI singles up the middle to stretch its advantage to 5-1.

Freshman Brooke Louden singled to right field with one out in the third, but on the next at bat Mikalia Guard grounded into a double play to close out the inning.

The Monarchs offense continued to churn out runs in the bottom of the third, scoring four times on five hits.

In the fifth inning, freshman Stephanie Carroll led off with a walk and advanced to third base on a wild pitch and then a ground out by Lindsey Talley. Sophomore Victoria Gontarz brought Carroll home after hitting an RBI single up the middle.

However, Louden grounded into another double play on the next at bat and the Monarchs tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth to enforce the run-rule win.

Junior Anna Patterson (0-1) was credited the lost as she logged 2.1 innings of work. Lindsey Champion (1-0) earned the win, tossing 4.1 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits and striking out three batters.

Game two: Methodist 5, Bridgewater 1

The Eagles produced seven hits, but could muster only one run after leaving eight runners on base during the second game.

The Monarchs struck first following a scored run from third on a wild pitch in the first inning. Afterwards, both offenses would struggle until the fourth. In the second inning, the Eagles loaded the bases with only one out, but back-to-back outs left BC empty handed.

During the fourth inning, the Monarchs recorded a two-out double and followed up with a single to left field. Back-to-back wild pitches cost the Eagles a couple of runs and the Monarch tallied two more behind an RBI single and a passed ball, extending the margin to 5-0.

The Eagles put a run on the board in the fifth inning. Talley smacked a one-out single and made it home on a fielding error with two outs. A fly out to left field ended the frame and the Monarchs held the Eagles offense in check through the remainder of the contest to finish the sweep.

Louden (0-1) was given the lost in her first collegiate start. She put in six inning of work and fanned three batters, but allowed five earned runs on six hits. Aly Thomas (1-2) received the win as she posted four strikeouts, seven hits and just one run.

BC had two players notch multiple hits with Patterson going 3-for-2 and Tibbs finishing 2-for-2 at the plate.

The Eagles are back in action on March 1 with its home opener against Mary Baldwin at 2:00 p.m.