Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DANVILLE, Va. – The Bridgewater softball team dropped a pair of games to Averett to conclude the 2024 regular season.
 
THE BASICS
Game 1: Averett 2, Bridgewater 1
Game 2: Averett 4, Bridgewater 3
Records: Bridgewater 18-22 (11-11 ODAC); Averett 16-22 (10-12 ODAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Averett was able to cross the plate first in the home half of the third inning. Hannah Zabik led off the frame with a single up the middle and moved to second on a bunt base hit by Kailey Gates. Hannah Jones was able to drive in Zabik with a single, 1-0 in favor of the Cougars.
• The Cougars doubled their lead once again with a run scored by Zabik. She got on base with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt before coming in to score on an RBI single by Jones to make the score 2-0 after five innings.
• Bridgewater made things interesting in the top of the sixth as Jazmyne Smith stroked a single to left as Cheyenne Barlow came in to run. Abby Byrum shuffled a single through the left side to advance Barlow to second to bring up Delaney Lail. The rookie lifted a double into the left-center field gap that allowed Barlow to come around and score, but a great cut off throw from centerfield into the shortstop beat Byrum to the plate for an out. Aniella Baldwin pinch ran for Lail and found herself at third after a groundout, but was stranded in scoring position to end the inning.
• Bridgewater stranded a Cougar on base in the bottom of the sixth with a chance to tie in the seventh, but went down in order for a 2-1 loss.

 
GAME STATS

• Lail was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in game one with an RBI, while Smith had two hits of her own. Byrum and Lexi Schaaf also recorded a hit.
• Samantha Martin tossed all 6.0 innings and yielded two runs (both earned) on seven hits. She struck out three batters in the loss.
• Taylor Sullivan earned the victory in the circle for the Cougars as she struck out nine batters and scattered seven hits. She walked just one batter.

 
GAME TWO

• BC looked to pounce early as Jordan Wise singled up the middle to open the back half of the twin bill. Mueller gave up her at bat to push Wise into scoting position and Smith delivered with a double the opposite way to drive in Wise and give the Eagles an early 1-0 advantage. BC wasn't done yet as Byrum ripped a single to left center and moved Smith to third. Lail kept the ball rolling with a single up the middle to drive in Smith and make it 2-0. A pair of groundouts got the Cougars out of the jam.
• Averett responded in the bottom of the second as a double combined with some small ball led to a Zabik RBI-base knock to slice the BC lead in half to 2-1. AVerett loaded the bases with two away in the home half of the third before a walk pushed across the second run of the game for the Cougars to tie things up at 2-2.
• Smith led off the top of the fifth with a double, but she was left stranded. BC got two quick outs in the bottom of the fifth, but a walk kept the AU offense at the plate. The next batter dug in and singled up the middle to drive in the runner from first to make it 3-2 for Averett.
• Bridgewater put a runner on in the sixth, but could not capitalize. Two quick outs in the top of the seventh put the Eagles' back to the wall before a double by Lail put a runner in scoring position. Lexi Schaaf stepped in next after an AU pitching change and reached on a throwing error. The errant throw allowed for the pinch runner Peyton Gregory to score from second and tie the game at 3-3 heading to the bottom of the seventh.
• Averett led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner into scoring position with one away. A flyout in foul territory made it two gone before a Sullivan single gave the Cougars the win.

GAME STATS:

• Smith, Wise and Lail led the BC offensive attack in game two with a pair of hits each.
• Lail was on the hook for the loss after allowing a pair of earned runs.
• Molly George led the Cougars with a pair of hits and a RBI. Taylor Sullivan took the win in the circle despite only facing two batters.

UP NEXT
The Eagles have qualified for the ODAC Tournament and await their fate as to where they will play their opening round pod. That will be announced tomorrow evening.