Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – The Bridgewater College softball team split a doubleheader with N.C. Wesleyan to open the season.

The Basics
Scores: Game 1: Bridgewater 1, N.C. Wesleyan 0; Game 2: N.C. Wesleyan 3, Bridgewater 2
Records: Bridgewater 1-1; N.C. Wesleyan 1-1

How It Happened
Game 1

• Hannah Mahan reached in the first plate appearance of the season as she was tagged by a pitch to open the day. She swiped second, but was left stranded. N.C. Wesleyan put a runner on with a double in the home half of the frame, but a strikeout by Mackenzie Cauthorn and a pop out ended the first inning.
• Both teams had runners on in the second and third innings thanks to base knocks but both defenses and pitchers locked in to keep the game scoreless including Skyler Buzbee catching a runner stealing with runners on the corners to end the home half of the third.
• Caroline Malandra opened the top of the fifth with a base rip to left field and moved to second on a wild pitch with no outs. Mahan put a ball in play that advanced Malandra to third and an error following the play allowed for the sophomore to round the bag and head safely to home to put the Eagles in front 1-0.
• With run support, Cauthorn locked in. A pair of punchouts in the bottom of the fifth kept BC rolling with the lead. BC stranded a runner in the sixth and NCWU looked to strike back. A walk and a base hit with one away put two runners on, but a fielder's choice and a pop up to Jazmyne Smith at first ended the inning.
• The Bishops put the tying run on in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out double and put another runner on via the free pass after a flyout, but a pop up to Smith sealed the season-opening shutout for the Eagles.

Match Notes

• Five different Eagles had base knocks in the game-one victory, but it was Cauthorn and the defense that shined. Nine strikeouts by the junior in the circle combined with a clean sheet defensively led the way.
• Ayock took the loss for NCWU in the circle, but did not surrender and earned run as the lone run scampered home on an error. Holloman went 3-for-3 for the Bishops in game one.

Game 2

• BC struck first in the top of the first as Mahan opened the game with a single to right. Mahan swiped second and a sacrifice bunt moved her to third with just one away. Jordan Wise grounded out to short during the next at bat, but Mahan crossed the plate to give Bridgewater an early edge.
• The Bishops struck back in the bottom of the first as a leadoff single got the homeside started. A flyout allowed the runner to advance to scoring position and a single later in the inning tied the game at 1-1. BC looked to reply right away, but the Eagles stranded a pair of runners in the top of the second.
• The Eagles took the lead back in the fourth as Smith went deep and her solo shot made it 2-1. The Bishops put a runner on and got her all the way to third, but a pair of strikeouts by Evelyn Rhodes helped the Eagles maintain the lead.
• Bridgewater had a chance to pad onto the lead but left a runner stranded at third in the top of the fifth. NCWU responded with a pair of hits to open the home half of the frame and a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position. Simmons came up with another big hit when the Bishops needed it as a single allowed both runners to score and put NCWU in front 3-2.
•  BC put a runner aboard in the sixth and seventh, but left both runners that represented the tying run stranded.

Match Notes

• Smith led the Eagles with a pair of hits in the second game of the day including the solo home run. Rhodes took the loss in the circle for BC after going the full distance and giving up three earned runs and striking out seven hitters.
• Simmons led NCWU with a pair of hits and three RBI. Romanczyk took the win for the Bishops and Humphery registered a save over the final two frames.

Up Next
The Eagles are back in action in Florida on March 2 as part of the Spring Games in Winter Haven, Fla.