ASHLAND, Va. – The Bridgewater College baseball team split with (RV) Randolph-Macon dropping the first game 6-5 and winning the second 13-12.

THE BASICS

Final Score: (Game one) Randolph-Macon 6, Bridgewater 5; (Game two) Bridgewater 13, Randolph-Macon 12
Records: Bridgewater 19-11 (8-5 ODAC), Randolph-Macon 18-7 (10-3 ODAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game One

• The Eagles got their offense started early putting up two runs in the top of the first inning. Jeffrey Snider drew a leadoff walk, then used his speed to take second base and get into scoring position. Lucas Bauer dropped in a single into right field to inch Snider closer to home. Brandan Hartman hit an RBI single to right field giving BC the first run of the ballgame. Jonathan Sexton flied out to left field allowing Bauer to tag up and make it 2-0. The Yellow Jackets used defense to escape the inning registering a 6-4-3 double play.
• Christian Harris reached first safely with an infield single to first base. On the basepath, he swiped second then was eventually brought home with an Ashton Smith single to center field. Bridgewater loaded the bases after a Snider single and a Bauer walk, but the pitching staff picked up a strike out to leave the runners stranded.
• The bottom of the third saw RMC add its first run of the game when Myles Webb doubled down the left field line to cut the lead to two, 3-1. Joe Christopher froze the last batter to get out of the inning.
• Randolph-Macon took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fifth. The Yellow Jackets took advantage of three wild pitches thrown by the Eagles to reach home and score. Then another costly error from the BC defense plated another run for RMC and give them the lead 5-4.
• Smith got a rally going in the top of the sixth inning when he issued a drive deep to left field to reach second base safely. Snider brought him home hitting a shallow single to the same side and make it a one run game.
• Down one run going into the eighth inning, Bridgewater sparked its offense starting a two-out rally. TJ Johnson was successful in a pinch hitting situation beating out the throw to reach first on a fielder's choice. Smith cracked his second double to left center field to drive in Johnson and tie the game 5-5.
• The Eagles did not get anything going in the top of the ninth giving Randolph-Macon the opportunity to walk it off. The bottom of the ninth started off with two Eagles' mishaps as the batter reach safely on an error then moved into scoring position after a wild pitch. The BC defense regrouped and got two outs recording a strike out and getting the lead runner out at third base. However, Zach Wernoski drove in the game-winning run on a single to left field with the final score of 6-5.

GAME STATS

• Smith registered a 3-for-4 performance with two doubles in his first start for Bridgewater. He also racked up two RBIs and scored a run batting in the nine hole.
• Christian Harris had a perfect day at the plate going 4-for-4 and drove in a run.
• The Eagles picked up 12 hits on the day while holding the Yellow Jackets to just six.
• Christopher was impressive in the start going 4.1 innings only allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and striking out two.
• Nick Harris was strapped with the loss after pitching in the ninth inning.
• Sam Slevin came on to pitch in the top of the ninth recording the win.

Game Two

• BC began the second game in similar fashion to the first game by scoring early in the top of the first inning. Snider in the leadoff spot hit an infield single to the second baseman, then took second base like he did in game one. Brandan Hartman took a hit by pitch to continue the inning and have runners on first and second. With two outs, Tristan Gordon poked a double up the middle to score Snider from second. Back-to-back walks from Smith and Christian Harris scored the second run of the game. With the bases loaded, RMC halted the attack getting a fly out to right field.
• Randolph-Macon stormed back in the bottom of the first getting three consecutive singles to start the inning. A sacrifice fly brought home the runner form third, then another single gave the Yellow-Jackets a 3-2 lead. Reid Long forced the final batter into a ground out for a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.
• Luke Tomajczyk started off the top of the second using his vision to draw a walk and then was aggressive on the basepath using his speed to take second base. Snider, who leads the team in home runs, blasted the ball over the right field wall to take back the lead 4-3. With the pitcher rattled, RMC decided to go to its bullpen. Smith drew the third walk of the inning to load the bases, but Randolph-Macon got the final out with a fielder's choice to third base.
• The Yellow Jackets tied up the game with the first at-bat when the batter hit a home run to left field. Randolph-Macon plated four more runs in the inning to take an 9-4 lead.
• RMC picked up another run in the bottom of the third inning when an error allowed the runner from third to come home. Bridgewater put together two more outs to end the inning when Hunter Covill recorded a strike out then Jonathan Sexton threw out the runner trying to steal second.
• The top of the fourth saw the Eagles put together a five-run inning which began with Bauer strolling to first base on a walk. Hartman hurried the third baseman into a throwing error to continue the run. A single to left field from Sexton gave BC its first run of the inning, then Gordon dropped in another single to load the bases. Christian Harris had an RBI single to right field to cut the lead to three. Nick Dawson continued the hitting parade with a double to left field to bring two more runners home. Tomajczyk recorded a sacrifice fly to plate the final run of the inning and cut the deficit to one at 10-9.
• Randolph-Macon stole a run back in the bottom of the fourth when a wild pitch brought home the runner from third base, but Jared Peake struck out the last batter for the final out.
• Bauer began the top of the fifth producing a single through the 5-6 gap in the infield. Hartman picked up his second walk of the day to create a greater threat on the basepath. Smith stepped up to the plate and bashed his first collegiate home run giving Bridgewater the 12-11 lead.
• Both pitching staffs were effective throughout the middle innings holding the opposing offenses in check.
• Bridgewater added insurance in their half of the ninth inning when Sexton knocked a single back up the middle to bring home Johnson from second base increase the Eagles' advantage to two, 13-11.
• The Yellow Jackets loaded the bases early in the bottom of the ninth inning. A run came home following a nice 6-4-3 double play from the BC infield. Caleb Penner closed out the game with a ground ball to Dawson who took the force out at second to secure the win 13-12.

GAME STATS

• Snider registered his fourth home run of the season to lead the team in the category. Smith registered his first career home run after a game altering three-run blast.
• Snider and Gordon each went 3-for-6 (.500) at the plate.
• Five Bridgewater players had two or more RBIs in the game.
• Bauer recorded a 2-for-3 performance in game two scoring two runs and drawing three walks.
• Peake was given the win after taking over in the bottom of the fourth inning. He went 1.0 innings giving up one hit and striking out two. Covill picked up four strike outs in the performance to lead the team in the category.
• Gavin Tomlin received the loss after giving up the tie in the top of the fifth inning.

UP NEXT
The Eagle return to action this Tuesday when they host No. 7 Shenandoah in an ODAC contest with first pitch slated for 4 p.m.