Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MISENHEIMER, N.C. – The Bridgewater College softball team kicked off the 2024 season with a doubleheader at Pfeiffer on Saturday afternoon where the fell in the twin bill.
 
THE BASICS:
Final Score:
Game one – Pfeiffer 8, Bridgewater 5
Game two – Pfeiffer 7, Bridgewater 2
Records: Bridgewater 0-2; Pfeiffer 2-0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One:

• The Eagles got on the board first as Hannah Mahan stroked a double to right field before coming around to score on an RBI single by Delaney Lail to give BC a 1-0 advantage.
• The lead lasted until the home half of the second inning as Pfeiffer exploded for four runs, including a two-run home run by Gracie Griffin and the home team went ahead 4-1.  The Falcons plated one more runner in the third inning to go up 5-1.
• Bridgewater fought back with a big inning of its own as a four-run fifth frame tied the game at 5-5. Wise singled to open the inning as Malandra walked to put two runners on. A bunt by Mahan moved both runners into scoring position as she legged out an infield single. Mueller reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Wise to score, 5-2, before Lail belted a home run to left-center field, the first home run of her collegiate career, to tie the game.
• The game stayed locked at 5-5 until the home side of the sixth inning saw the Falcons put up three more runs. The Eagles came up to bat in the top of the seventh but were put down in order to end the first game of the twin bill.

 
GAME STATS:

• Mahan and Lail each had two hits with Lail driving in four runs, including the three-run home run. Morgan Lucas recorded a double in her lone hit of the first game.
• In the circle, Mackenzie Cauthorn got the start and allowed five runs on four hits in 2.2 inning before giving way to Samantha Martin who tossed 2.1 innings and yielded two runs. Erica Nelson finished the game with 1.0 inning of relief and gave up one run with a strikeout.
• For the Falcons, Kali Morton started and went 5.0 innings with six strikeouts, but allowed five runs on eight hits. Emma Bullin entered the game for the final two frames to pick up the victory. She did not allow a base runner.

 
GAME TWO

• Pfeiffer hopped on the board in the bottom of the first in game two. Alyssa Braoddus came to the plate with two runners on and delivered with a single to right center to make it 2-0.
• BC got a runner on as Lail drew a walk to lead off the second frame, but the Falcons worked out of the jam and capitalized with another RBI base knock to make it a 3-0 lead.
• Kenzi Lyall had not surrendered a hit through the game's opening 3.2 innings before McKenna Mueller broke up the no-no bid with a single through the left side. The sophomore advanced to scoring position and a Falcon error brought her around to third before Pfeiffer worked out of the jam with a foul pop out.
• BC got another runner on in the fifth but could not bring them around. The Falcons utilized another scoreless frame and put up four runs on five hits in the frame to take a 7-0 lead.
• Mueller gave the BC offense some life with a walk and again worked her way into scoring position before being stranded. Cauthorn put up a scoreless sixth inning to put the game in BC's hands heading to the top of the seventh. Jazmyne Smith opened the frame by doubling to the left side. After a flyout, Lexi Schaaf delivered with a double to the left side as well to bring Smith across the plate and give the Eagles' offense life. Andrea Savage dug in next, and she singled to left center to push Schaaf to third. Abby Byrum kept the rally going as she singled and drove in Schaaf, moving the lead runner to second. Lyall was able to weather the storm as the lineup flipped back over to get the final two outs.

 
GAME STATS:

• Five different Eagles tallied a hit in game two and Mueller was the only one to reach base safely twice.
• Elena Williams took the loss in the circle for BC after tossing 2.0 innings and surrendering a trio of earned runs. Lail hurled 2.2 innings and Cauthorn finished up the second game of the day with a scoreless 1.1 innings in the circle.
• Emma Chopko led the way at the dish for the Falcons with a trio of hits and a walk. Lyall tossed the complete-game victory to go along with five strikeouts.