BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Bridgewater baseball split the two games against No. 6 seeded Averett, resulting in a deciding game three in the ODAC first round series at home Friday afternoon. 

The Eagles bested the Cougars in the first game by a score of 9-3 and fell in the second game, 10-5. 

The Basics 

Game 1 Score: No. 3 Bridgewater (BCE) 9, No. 6 Averett (AU) 3 

Game 2 Score: No. 6 Averett (AU) 10, No. 3 Bridgewater (BCE) 5 

How It Happened 

Game 1 

• The Eagles got off to a strong start to give themselves an early boost of confidence going into the first game of the first round series against AU. BCE applied the pressure immediately in the first inning and maintained the lead the whole way through with strong pitching on the mound to back up the efficient offense. The Cougars creeped up on the Eagles late in the seventh but were handled smoothly to continue to plunge ahead.  

• In the first, Trent Holland barreled an RBI double to get Bransen Hensley around to score with the opening knock. Lucas Bauer soon came up to the plate and helped Zack Chadwell score on a hard-hit ball to shortstop. Then, Ashton Smith brought the score to 3-0 by finding open field in left to score Holland. 

• The Cougars were able to bring a run in in the second inning, but the Eagles quickly got right back to where they started as Holland laced an RBI single for the Hensley scored run. Then, with a 4-1 lead, BCE jumped even further ahead two innings later with yet another Holland run batted in scoring Bryce Suters. 

• AU continued to fight hard adding a pair of runs in the fifth and seventh to quietly dwindle the deficit to two at 5-3, however, Chandler Valbak rose to the occasion and pummeled a ground-rule double, knocking in Bauer and making it 6-3. Nick Stavros then came up making noise in the bottom half inning in the seventh finding the gap in left center to score both Jake Harris and Valbak. 

• The Eagles then did the job and snuffed out any potential comeback scoring surge by the Cougars while adding a ninth run on a Valbak RBI double to come away with a 9-3 final score in game one. 

Game 2 

• Although the Eagles started strong in the first game this time around in the second game, the Cougars got off to a strong start putting up four runs in the opening frame. A commanding opening scoring surge to start the game was a lot for the Eagles to bear despite multiple attempts at potential scoring bursts. The Cougar eventually got the bats going and put BCE out of reach for the comeback effort.  

• Multiple self-inflicted plays hurt the Eagles and immediately put them at a disadvantage as AU made the Eagles earn their mistakes in the field. In the first inning, AU strung together three consecutive hits for scored runs to make it an early 3-0 lead. Then, with a fielding miscue in the outfield, the Cougars charged ahead to score on the error. 

• Nothing came for the Eagles in the first inning, but they were able to find small traction in the second. Jake Harris helped BCE get on the board with an RBI single through the right side, scoring in Ashton Smith. Soon after, BCE began a gradual attempt at taking the lead with runners aboard in the third inning. Trent Holland battled at the plate and found his pitch to crack an RBI single to left field for the Bransen Hensley scored run. Chandler Valbak dialed in after a strong outing to close the first game and continued his convincing presence at the plate with a one-run knock to score Zack Chadwell.  

• The Cougars got out of the inning after the Eagles pulverized a three-run frame on the attempt to even up the score. AU responded well and lifted the score back up three at the end of the fourth. AU continued to lunge forward and gain more ground, tacking on four runs after the sixth inning off fielding errors. Valbak attempted to get another scoring surge going, but it was stopped short after the RBI sacrifice fly by Valbak. Then, at 10-4, AU safely maneuvered out of danger despite an added run in the eighth from Bryce Suters leaving it at 10-5 for the final score in game two.

Game Notes 

Game 1 

• Bridgewater cleaned up on defense effectively by not giving up any errors (Averett gave up two errors). 

• Trent Holland highlighted the batting box score with three RBIs, two hits, and one scored run. Holland went 2-for-4 on the day. 

• Chandler Valbak ignited a hot bat in late innings with back-to-back RBI doubles. He also went 2-for-4 on the day. 

• On the mound, Cam Nuckols held the Cougars to just two runs on eight strikeouts in six innings pitched for the win. 

Game 2 

• Bridgewater had three errors to Averett's zero.  

• The Eagles piled up their hits total (14) but could not convert successfully only being credited five runs batted in.  

• Chandler Valbak went another 2-for-4 finishing the day with a .500 batting average (4-for-8) including four total RBIs. 

• Evan Bert was challenged on the mound although bouncing back from a four-run first inning in his starting performance; his final stat line (4.1 innings pitched, six hits, five earned runs, four walks, and two strikeouts). 

Up Next 

The Eagles will take on the Cougars in a deciding game three in the ODAC first round series tomorrow, May 3 at 2 p.m. (tentative time due to weather).