BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College softball team swept Sweet Briar to conclude a stretch of 10 games in eight days.

Game 1
Score: Game 1: Bridgewater 12, Sweet Briar 7
Records: Bridgewater 14-9 (4-1 ODAC), Sweet Briar 12-11 (1-6 ODAC)

How It Happened
• Sweet Briar opened the game with a leadoff single up the middle, but three-straight strikeouts by Mackenzie Cauthorn stranded the runner. Bridgewater opened the game offensively with a bang as Kaleyn Ramsey doubled to open the bottom of the first. A bunt by Aniella Baldwin move Ramsey over and Mckenna Mueller doubled and drove in Ramsey to make it 1-0. Mueller advanced to third on an error later in the frame and BC loaded the bases for Jazmyne Smith. Smith lifted a ball to the wall in left, but a leaping catch limited the damage for SBC to just a sacrifice fly as Mueller tagged up and scored to make it 2-0.
• SBC went down in order in the second and BC was back in business. The Vixens got two quick outs with a Cauthorn single in the middle of them, but a single by Baldwin extended the inning and pushed Cauthorn to third. Mueller delivered again aas an infield hit drove in Cauthorn and an error on the same play allowed Baldwin to scamper around and score to make it 4-0. Laxi Schaaf reached on an error to keep the inning going and a Smith base knock drove in Mueller. The inning continued a base hit by Leiah Branch drove in two more runs and another error by Sweet Briar allowed two more runs to score and make it 9-0 as the Eagles hit through the lineup in the second.
• The visitors regrouped and cut into the deficit with a run in the top of the third and kept BC off the board in the hone half of the inning to gain some momentum. SBC added to its tally with a run in the top of the fourth, and loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth with a chance to make it a game. The Vixens delivered with a base knock and the founder snuck under the glove of Ramsey in left and got all the way to the wall as SBC cleared the bases and made it 9-5.
• Bridgewater struck back in the home half of the fifth as Andrea Savage ripped a single back up the middle to start the side. Sarah Kate Tozier came in to run and swiped second before a Cauthorn single followed to drive her in. Cauthorn moved up to third after a groundout and BC put on the squeeze play and Cauthorn snuck around the tag at the dish to make it 11-5.
• BC added more insurance in the bottom of th sixth as a Savage sacrifice fly drove in Malandra after an error earlier in the frame to make it 12-5. SBC started a rally in the top of the seventh and pushed Cathorn over the 130-pitch mark forcing BC to go to the bullpen and Erica Nelson got the final out on a groundout to polish off the wild 12-7 victory.

Match Notes
• Cauthorn (6-5) picked up the victory after going 6.2 innings and allowing 10 hits and striking out nine. She also led the offense as her and Mueller tallied three hits, while three different Eagles drove in multiple runs.
• Sawyers (4-4) took the loss after going 1.2 innings and surrendering five earned runs. Jamerson tallied two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Vixens.

Game 2
Score: Bridgewater 9, Sweet Briar 1
Records: Bridgewater 15-9 (5-1 ODAC); Sweet Briar 12-12 (1-7 ODAC)

How It Happened
• Elena Williams opened the game by putting SBC down in order to open game two. BC put two runners in scoring position after a pair of walks, but Baldwin and Mueller were left stranded.
• Both teams went down in order as each starter settled in. BC broke the rhythm as Molly Ecroyd drew a walk and then swiped second. Ramsey laid down a bunt and reached after an error on the play and Ecroyd rounded third and scored on the play as well to make it 1-0. BC tacked on to the lead later in the inning as Smith doubled down the left field line to drive in Baldwin, who reached on a fielder’s choice, to make it 2-0. Cauthorn dug in next and singled just past the short stop and the ball rolled to the outfield allowing Smith to score. SBC tried to get Cauthorn out at second as she tried to leg the hit out, but she was hit by the throw and took off or third. The junior then was struck again by the throw on her way to third allowing her to reach safe and the ball rolled into the dugout off the ricochet allowing her to score on the dead ball and make it 4-0.
• Williams continued to roll in the circle as she allowed a base runner, but a double play kept the no-hit bid alive before SBC broke it up in the top of fifth, but did not scratch a run across.
• BC tagged on to the lead to the tune of three runs. Smith added another RBI as she drove in Baldwin who singled to open the frame. Maggie Robertson pinch ran for Smith, stole second, and she scored on a single from Cauthorn that followed. Cauthorn followed the pattern as she swiped second and scored on a Caroline Malandra infield knock to cap off the scoring at a 7-0 gap.
• Sweet Briar scratched across a run in the top of the sixth after back-to-back hits to slice the lead to 7-1. Ecroyd led off the bottom of the sixth for BC and a hit from Ramsey and a walk by Baldwin loaded the bases. Mueller singled with the bases juiced to drive in Ecroyd and Cauthorn followed with a walk with bases loaded to reach the run rule at a 9-1 gap.

Match Notes
• Williams (3-1) picked up the victory allowing just three hits and struck out five. Cauthorn and Smith each tallied a pair of hits and combined for five RBI.
• Taylor (4-2) took the loss after 4.1 innings of work and allowing five runs, only one of which was earned.

Up Next
The Eagles are back in action at EMU on Wednesday for a pair of games.

— BC Athletics —