NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College baseball team battled with No. 11 Christopher Newport before falling, 6-4, to open the 2025 season at Captains Field on Tuesday afternoon.

The Eagles kicked off the 2025 season with a 6-4 loss against No. 11 Christopher Newport on Tuesday afternoon.

Records: Bridgewater (0-1), Christopher Newport (4-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Eagles jumped on the scoreboard first against the nationally-ranked Captains as Nick Stavros started off the first inning with a single to left field. He came around to score on a J. Hayes two-out, RBI double to right center as BC led 1-0 after one full inning.
• CNU threatened in the second inning after back-to-back singles led off the frame, but Joe Christopher retired the next three batters in order to strand the runners and maintain a 1-0 advantage.
• Bridgewater added some insurance in the top of the third inning as Stavros again reached base to start the frame, this time via a walk. Chandler Valbak laced a one-out single to right field to move Stavros to second before Hayes drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Trent Holland followed with a double to left to score Stavros and Valbak to put the Eagles up, 3-0.
• The home side responded with one run in the bottom half of the frame after a lead-off double from Benedict who eventually came around to score on an infield single.
• Bridgewater once again plated a run in the fourth inning as Spencer Sigmon hit a one-out infield single before coming around to score on a wild pitch, 4-1.
• Christopher Newport cut into the deficit with a pair of runs on two hits and took advantage of a wild pitch to make it a 4-3 contest through four innings. The No. 11 team in the land took its first lead of the game in the seventh inning with three runs on three hits and were aided by a pair of fielding errors to take a 6-4 edge entering the eighth frame.

GAME NOTES
• The game was originally scheduled to be played on Wednesday, but the contest was moved due to potential inclement weather in the forecast.
• Stavros started off his season leading the way offensively with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate with a walk and a pair of runs scored.
• Valbak added two hits and scored a run, while Holland drove in a pair of runs with a double.
• The Eagles sent seven pitchers to the mound, including Christopher (ND) who tossed 2.2 innings with three strikeouts and allowed just one run on five hits in the start. Jared Peake came in to finish out the third frame, while Andrew Baugher and Nick Harris also had scoreless outings.

UP NEXT
Bridgewater begins the home portion of its 2025 campaign with a three-game set against McDaniel this weekend. The Eagles and the Green Terror will start the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, February 22, beginning at 11 am and close out the weekend with a single game on Sunday, February 23, with first pitch expected at 1 pm.

— BC Athletics —