BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College softball team split a pair of games with Lynchburg on Sunday.

GAME 1
Score: Bridgewater 2; Lynchburg 0
Records: Bridgewater 23-10 (13-2 ODAC); Lynchburg 18-11 (9-6 ODAC)

How It Happened
• Mackenzie Cauthorn opened the game for BC and put Lynchburg down in order in the top of the first. Bridgewater went away in order in the bottom of the first, and Lynchburg looked for a chance to pounce as a leadoff walk put a runner on to open the second. Cauthorn regrouped with a pair of strikeouts before another walk put two runners on, but another punchout ended the frame with no damage done.
• BC got on the board in the bottom of the second as the rally started with two outs. Jazmyne Smith opened the game with a base poke and advanced to second as the ball bounced off the center fielder and took off to the wall. Kaelyn Ramsey followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Skyler Buzbee dug in next nd followed with a single to left field to drive in Smith and make it 1-0 for the home side.
• Cauthorn put Lynchburg down in order, and BC added to the advantage. Malandra reached on an error by the Hornets and stole second to get into scoring position. Lynchburg made a pitching chance, and Mueller followed with a hit to move Malandra to third. Lexi Schaaf followed with a flyout to centerfield just deep enough to allow Malandra to tag up and score to stretch the lead to 2-0.
• Bridgewater’s defense continued to roll, led by Cauthorn in the circle. The junior kept the no-hit going until a two-out double in the top of the fifth. The runner stole third and put the tying run at third, but a flyout spoiled the chance for Lynchburg. BC looked to add to the lead in the bottom of the frame as they loaded the bases with no outs. Lynchburg got a strikeout for the first out of the frame, and Schaaf flew out to shallow centerfield, but it was not enough to bring in Aniela Baldwin as she was tagged out at the plate.
• Lynchburg put the potential tying run on base with a hit by pitch and one away in the top of the seventh, but a strikeout and a groundout secured the game one win.
Match Notes
• Cauthorn (11-5) picked up the win in the circle with her eighth shutout of the season, the second most in a single season in program history. The junior’s seven strikeouts also move her into a tie for the eighth most in a single season in BC history.
• The BC offense tallied just five hits as Mueller, Smith, Ramsey, Buzbee and Baldwin all accounted for them. Mueller and Malandra each tallied a stolen base as well.
• Emily Charlton (5-6) took the loss after going 2.1 innings and allowing both unearned runs. Lexi Powell registered the Hornets’ only base hit.

GAME 2

Score: Lynchburg 1; Bridgewater 0
Records: Bridgewater 23-11 (13-3 ODAC); Lynchburg 19-11 (10-6 ODAC)

How It Happened
• Erica Nelson opened game two for the Eagles by not allowing a Hornet to reach base to open the first. Malndra got the BC offense firing in the top of the first with a rip for a single, but she was caught stealing to end the frame prematurely.
• Both pitchers settled in during the second frame, with clean sheets. Lynchburg put a runner on via the walk, and a sacrifice bunt attempt followed, but the batter beat out the throw to first to put two runners on. A strikeout got BC an out, but a double steal put both runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly followed to drive in the lead runner and give the Hornets a 1-0 edge.
• BC looked to respond with a one-out single from Andrea Savage, but she was left stranded. Lynchburg left a runner at third in the top of the fourth, while BC left Mueller and Schaaf on the bases in the bottom of the inning.
• The Hornets left a possible insurance run at second in the fifth and sixth innings, while BC left Malandra on first in the sixth after her one-out knock.
• Evelyn Rhoads’ relief effort that started in the fifth rolled in the seventh as a three-up, three-down frame brought BC to its final three outs with a chance. Ramsey singled with one gone, and a groundout moved her to second with two outs. Savage drew a four-pitch walk as the nerves looked to have gotten to Dorcsis in the circle, but a sharp grounder to third secured the split.

Match Notes
• Nelson (1-1) took the loss after tossing the first four frames and surrendering the only earned run. Rhoads tossed the final three and allowed just one hit. Malandra tallied a pair of hits as BC out-hit Lynchburg, despite the scoreline.
• Dorcsis (10-5) picked up the victory in the circle as she went the full distance, surrendering six hits and striking out three in the shutout. Lynchburg tallied just three hits, and Powell drove in the lone run in the contest.

Up Next
The Eagles hit the road on Wednesday night for a pair of contests in Virginia Beach against No. 5 Virginia Wesleyan.

— BC Athletics —