BRIDGEWATER ,Va. — The Bridgewater College baseball team came up just short to No. 5 Shenandoah 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon in ODAC play.

Final Score: Shenandoah 4, Bridgewater 1
Records: Bridgewater 9-13, 2-3 ODAC; No. 5 Shenandoah 17-2, 4-1 ODAC

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Hornets got the leadoff man aboard in the top of the first after Frankie Ritter was tagged with a pitch, but Nick Harris and the BC defense did their job and kept the game scoreless. Bridgewater got a man on in the bottom of the first as well as Hunter Clever ripped a single to left field, but he too was left stranded.

• Both starters allowed just a hit a piece through the top of the third before the Bridgewater offense went to work in the bottom half of the frame. Isaac Sumpter led the inning off with a single to left field but was put out at second on a fielder’s choice later in the inning leaving Jarret Biesecker as the lone runner for BC at first with two gone. Brett Tharp dug into the box next and delivered with a double off the wall in right field allowing for the speedy Biesecker to score and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

• Shenandoah quickly responded in the top of the fourth. Harris retired the first two hitters he faced, but a single by Colby Martin extended the inning for the Hornets. An error on a pickoff attempt moved Martin all the way to third base with Pearce Bucher at the plate. Bucher singled through the right side pushing the tying-run across.

• BC had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Hartman led the inning off with a base knock. Clever was tagged by a pitch and Collin Reid drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Sumpter stepped to the plate and Jacob Bell sat him down swinging.

• Shenandoah put two runners on in the top of the seventh and a sacrifice bunt pushed them both into scoring position with just one out. Tyler Bittersdorf pinch hit for SU and delivered with a ball to the fence in left center to clear the bases with a triple. An old-fashioned squeeze play by Ritter allowed for Bittersdorf to score and extend the lead to 4-1.

• The Eagles had chances down the stretch, but Bell dialed in for SU as he retired the Eagles in order over the final three innings.

GAME STATS
• Brandan Hartman continued his hot season at the plate as he recorded a 2-for-3 effort at the dish.

• Ritter went 3-of-3 offensively for the Hornets and added a RBI.

• Bell grabbed the win for Shenandoah after hurling the complete nine innings. The Hornets allowed just the single earned run and six hits along with four strikeouts.

• Nick Griffin took the loss for BC after allowing a trio of earned runs in just over two innings of work. James Swart finished the game off for the Eagles and did not allow a baserunner in his two innings on the bump.

UP NEXT
Bridgewater will make the long trip to Virginian Wesleyan on Saturday for a pair of games with the Marlins beginning at noon.

— BC Athletics —