BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – No. 3 seeded Bridgewater baseball topped Sixth-seeded Averett Saturday afternoon in the deciding game three after a split series on Friday in the ODAC tournament opening round at home. The Eagles took the 7-3 win over the Cougars to advance to the ODAC double elimination format in the championship round.

Records: BCE (26-14-1 OVR, 15-8-1 ODAC), AU (20-16 OVR, 11-12 ODAC)

How It Happened
• Although beginning the game coming up short on scoring runners in scoring position, the Eagles got on track in late innings to capture the lead and hold on the rest of the way. BCE put the Cougars away effectively with strong pitching and the offense later secured a confident rhythm to sync up with the pitching.
• BCE got off to a quick start in the first inning with bases loaded. Nick Stavros beat out a wild pitch to open the score but was kept from doing any more damage as AU successfully closed out the top half inning stranding two runners in scoring position. Momentum built for the Cougars after holding down the Eagles, putting together a scored run in the third inning to knot it one apiece.
• In the fourth inning, the Cougars continued to accelerate offensively taking the lead on a sacrifice bunt. The Eagles attempted to turn the tides in their bottom half inning and succeeded with the help from Bransen Hensley on an RBI single to score Lucas Bauer at 2-2. AU went on another stride for the lead and found room to pounce in the fifth on a go-ahead RBI single.
• Then, the Eagles dialed in and strung together four runs in the seventh to go on a commanding surge. Bauer opened the inning with a double, knocking in Ashton Smith. With the score tied, Jake Harris answered the call with a bulleted ground-rule double to score Bauer and Chandler Valbak. Hensley followed that up, lacing a single to left bringing in Harris.
• BCE closed out the AU offense and added an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI sac fly by Smith to seal the 7-3 victory for the advancement to the ODAC championship round.

Game Notes
• After leaving 10 runners on base through six innings, Bridgewater turned the offense around for the last three innings with only one remaining baserunner.
• Jake Harris shined offensively giving the Eagles the game-winning hit to bring in two runs. Harris ended the day going a solid 2-for-4.
• Nick Stavros remained consistent as he’s been doing all season collecting a game-high three hits. Stavros bumped his overall season batting average to a stellar .438.
• Matthew Bishop helped relieve Lucas Cash as Cash allowed only two earned runs on three strikeouts through a full six innings of work. Bishop relieved nicely pitching two complete innings while also tossing three strikeouts to take the win on the mound.

Up Next
The Eagles will next head to the ODAC championship round beginning Thursday, May 8 in Tysons Corner, Va., at Capital One Park. (Time and more information are to be announced)

— BC Athletics —