BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Bridgewater College softball team picked up their first sweep of the season in exciting fashion over Mary Baldwin.
 
THE BASICS:
Final Score:
Game one – Bridgewater 6, Mary Baldwin 5 (8 Innings)
Game two – Bridgewater 5, Mary Baldwin 3
Records: Bridgewater 7-9; Mary Baldwin 4-8
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One:

• Mary Baldwin opened the game with a single, but Mackenzie Cauthorn recovered and kept the game scoreless. Jazmyne Smith reached in the bottom of the first and gave BC an opportunity and she was also left stranded. BC got a pair of runners on in the home half of the second but once more left them stranded.
• Cauthorn sat down the Fighting Squirrels in order for the second straight inning in the top of the third and Bridgewater finally cashed in on its opportunities as a pair of singles from Jordan Wise and Smith put two runners on for Delaney Lail. The freshman delivered with a single right back up the middle to break the tie. Cauthorn added some run support for herself as she singled the opposite way to drive in Smith. Lexi Schaff dug in next and she kept the inning rolling with a double down the left field line to clear the bases and make it 4-0. Aniella Baldwin singled later in the inning and pushed Schaaf to third with two gone and a pinch-hit single by Kaelyn Ramsey brought Schaaf in to score easily to push it to 5-0.
• Each side got a runner on vie the walk in the fourth, but neither made progress past first base. A two out walk in the fifth gave MBU another opportunity, but yet again the runner was left stranded.
• MBU opened the sixth with a pair of hits to spark the offense with its back against the wall. The Fighting Squirrels kept the bats going as a single from Hadley May drove in the leadoff runner and started what would become a massive five-run sixth inning for the visitors. A bases-loaded walk tied the game at 5-5 before Savannah Martin came in to pitch and induced a groundout to keep the game tied.
• BC got two runners on in the bottom of the sixth, but yet again the pair of Smith and Mueller were left stranded. MBU went down in order in the top of the seventh giving the Eagles a chance. Aniella Baldwin doubled with two away in the bottom half of the frame and Abby Byrum dug in next. Byrum popped a ball to right field, but a diving effort by MBU led to a spectacular catch to send the game to extra innings. MBU got the international tiebreak runner around to third base on a sacrifice bunt, but a pair of heads up defensive plays by Martin in the circle and Mueller at short sent the game to the bottom of the seventh still tied. Mueller laid down a bunt to push Byrum to third as she served as the tiebreak runner and Wise put a ball on the ground to short stop to give Byrum just enough time to slide across the plate to give BC the walk-off win.

GAME STATS:

• Eight different Eagles recorded a hit in the win including multi-hit games by Baldwin, Schaaf and Smith.
• Leanna Rankin led the offensive charge for MBU with a pair of hits, a RBI and a run scored.
• Cauthorn opened the game with a fantastic start before surrendering four earned runs in the sixth inning. Painter (1-0) recorded the win after allowing just one baserunner and recording a ground out for six of her seven outs.

GAME TWO

• Elena Williams opened game two by retiring the side in order and the Eagles took advantage. Mueller was tagged by the first pitch she saw, and BC looked to use small ball to move her around. Bridgewater laid down different sacrifice attempts and both times MBU failed to make the play jamming the bases up for Lail. The rookie did her job with a sacrifice fly to allow Mueller to trot in from third and break open the scoring. BC loaded the bases again and this time a single by Andrea Savage brought Wise in to score. BC made it 3-0 as Baldwin followed Savage with a bases-loaded walk.
• Mueller extended the lead the easiest way possible in the bottom of the second. Following another hitless MBU frame, the sophomore led off the half inning with a deep fly to left for a solo home run making it 4-0.
• MBU finally got a hit to open the second, but three plays from the BC defense stranded the runner. Savage doubled in the bottom half of the third with a laser down the left field line, but the Eagles were unable to make anything of it.
• Much like game one, Mary Baldwin was due for another big inning and it came in the top of the fifth. MBU jammed the bases with one out before a flyout gave the BC defense and Williams some confidence. A two-run single by the Fighting Squirrels followed by a single from May brought them back to within a run at 4-3.
• Smith opened the home half of the fifth with a single and the offense went to work. A ground out by Schaaf moved Cheyenne Barlow around to second after she pinch ran for Smith. Savage stepped in and delivered again with a double through the left side to drive in Barlow to add the insurance run to make it 5-3. BC proceeded to load the bases with a pair of walks, but an infield pop up kept MBU within striking distance. BC went to Lail in the circle and she silenced MBU down the stretch allowing a pair of base runners in the sixth and putting the side down in order in the seventh on the way to the save.

GAME STATS:

• Savage was the offensive spark the Eagles needed in game two with a 3-for-3 effort at the dish along with a pair of RBI. Mueller also continued her hot streak with a hit and a pair of runs scored including the solo blast.
• May was the only Fight Squirrel with multiple hits in game two. Allison Crum drove in a pair of runs in a 1-for-4 effort.
• Williams picked up her first win of the season in her best outing of 2024 so far. Lail picked up her first collegiate save with two innings of scoreless work along with a strikeout.

UP NEXT
The Eagles turn around and host Mary Baldwin on Sunday for a St. Patrick's Day doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.