WINCHESTER, Va. – The Bridgewater College baseball team fell to No. 2 Shenandoah 18-4 in conference action on Thursday evening.

THE BASICS

Final Score: Shenandoah 18, Bridgewater 4
Records: Bridgewater 14-7 (3-2 ODAC), Shenandoah 15-2 (5-1 ODAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles struck early in the top of the first with Jeffrey Snider drawing a walk to lead off the game. Snider then came around to score when Nick Stavros hit a double to the left center field gap. Lucas Bauer added one more hitting into a ground out to the short stop giving Stavros enough time to reach home safely and give BC a 2-0 lead.
• The Hornets responded in their half of the first with Frankie Ritter hitting a lead-off home run to left field. Gavin Horning etched a triple to right field, then a hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases for SU. The following batter was hit by a pitch to plate the second run and tie the score 2-2. With bases loaded, James Swart got the last out on a line out to Bauer in center field.
• Shenandoah added four more runs in the bottom of the second first with a double down the right field line gave the Hornets their first lead of the game. The next run came after a single to right field bringing home the runner from second base. SU ended the inning plating two more runs when Pearce Bucher hit a ball over the left field wall to make it 6-2.
• The scoring continued for Shenandoah in the bottom of the third with a sacrifice fly hit to center field increasing the deficit to five, 7-2.
• The bottom of the fourth inning saw the Hornets add three more runs to their total with a double ripped down the left field line. Brady Pickette followed up with a two-run home run hit over the left field wall giving SU a 10-2 lead.
• Bridgewater led off the top of the fifth inning with Christian Harris hitting a single up the middle. Isaac Sumpter moved the runner slapping a single through the right side. The Eagles' rally was cut short after consecutive outs after the second hit.
• Shenandoah added more runs in the bottom of the fifth to keep its scoring streak alive.  A balk brought home the runner from third base then a single through the right side saw the Hornets push the lead to 12-2. A costly error from the BC defense allowed another run to come in to score. The scoring halted after a single through the right side gave Shenandoah the 16-2 advantage.
• The Hornets scored their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth when a single down the right field line and a double play ball brought the runner home from third.
• Tyler Jones and Nick Griffin were effective in the late innings each throwing a scoreless inning in the seventh and eighth inning, respectively.
• Bridgewater fought back in the bottom of the ninth with Spencer Sigmon hitting a single to first back, then Jake Harris followed it up with a single of his own to put a runner in scoring position. Ashton Smith worked a walk to load the bases for Sumpter who capitalized sending a ball through the 5-6 hole to plate a run. Chandler Valback singled through the opposite side to plate another run but SU thwarted the scoring going on to win 18-4.

GAME STATS

• Valback, Sigmon and Sumpter each recorded two hits on the day. Sumpter and Valback each had an RBI in their performance.
• Bucher led the way for the Hornets on the offensive end going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a home run.
• Nick Harris was strapped with the loss after throwing 3.0 innings registering three strike outs. Jones and Griffin came on in relief in the late innings both allowing no runs while Griffin recorded two strike outs.
• Nick Bell received the win after going 7.0 innings allowing two runs on five hits and picking up two strike outs.

UP NEXT
The Eagles return to Bridgewater this Sunday for a doubleheader with Virginia Wesleyan beginning at 12 p.m.