ORANGE, Ca. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College softball team split a pair of games to open its trip to southern California.

Game 1
The Basics
Score: Bridgewater 3, UChicago 2
Records: Bridgewater 5-0, UChicago 2-2

How It Happened
• Caroline Malandra opened the contest with a single for BC, but was caught stealing just moments later. McKenna Mueller and Andrea Savage each singled with two gone by in the frame, but a strikeout ended the top of the first with two runners on. UChicago put a runner on with two gone in the bottom of the frame, but they too left the runner stranded.
• BC struck in the top of the second as Lily Moyers doubled the opposite way to open the frame. Abby Byrum laid down a bunt in the next at bat and the Maroons botched the play. Byrum reached safely and Moyers scored all the way from first to take a 1-0 lead. Mackenzie Cauthorn singled later in the frame to put a pair of runners on, but the punchout ended another BC frame. The Maroons clapped back with a duo of hits to open their part of the frame and a sacrifice flyout tied the game. Evelyn Rhoads regrouped and sat down the next two hitters she faced on strikes to keep the game tied.
• Chicago put a runner on in the bottom of the third with a two out double. A single followed and the throw to the plate was just narrowly not in time before Lexi Schaaf sent a throw to Mueller at second to catch the runner and end the frame now trailing, 2-1.
• The Eagles struck back in the fourth as a Byrum double and a Schaaf walk put BC in business. With two away Malandra delivered with an infield hit allowing Byrum to score and tie the game. An error in the bottom of the frame gave Chicago a chance, but another Rhoads strikeout ended the threat.
• Mueller led off the top of the fifth in a big way with a hard solo shot to left that cleared the wall to give BC a 3-2 lead. Rhoads again delivered in the circle, now working with the lead, as the Maroons went down in order. BC looked to add an insurance run in the top of the sixth, but Schaaf was tagged at the plate to end the inning as she tried to tag-up on a flyball. UC had a chance in the sixth and so did BC in the top of the seventh, but both stranded runners at second. Two strikeouts from Rhoads in the bottom of the seventh sent the Maroons to their final out down a run. They drew a walk, but a groundout to Mueller secured the win.
Match Notes,
• Rhoads (2-0) picked up the complete-game win in the circle for BC. The sophomore struck out six and walked just one hitter. Bridgewater tallied 10 total hits as Malandra and Mueller each had a pair.
• Wong took the loss for UChicago. Hui had a pair of hits for the Maroons

Game 2
The Basics
Score: #24 Chapman 6, Bridgewater 5
Records: Bridgewater 5-1, #24 Chapman 9-3

How It Happened
• Mueller and Savage reached with two outs in the top of the first, but a ground out stranded the duo in scoring position. Chapman struck in the bottom of the first with a leadoff double and a double one out later made it 1-0. The Panthers tagged on another run in the frame as a two-out error allowed the lead runner to score and make it 2-0
• Chapman left runners stranded in the second and third frames, while BC was held without a baserunner until the top of the fourth. Mueller opened the frame with a double and worked her way to third after an error by the center fielder. Savage followed with a base knock and Mueller scored easily to cut the lead in half. Aniella Baldwin came on to run for Savage but was caught stealing for the first out of the frame. Schaaf singled after another out and Leiah Branch drew a walk in the next at bat to put the go-ahead run aboard. Byrum stepped in next but was put down looking.
• Chapman responded immediately with a leadoff double in its half of the fourth. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third and a strikeout by Cauthorn gave BC two outs. The Panthers were not phased with two away as back-to-back base knocks each drove in a run to make it a 4-1 lead. An error extended the inning after a pitching change, but new hurler Kylie Jones regrouped and a strikeout ended the frame.
• Malandra doubled, but was left stranded at third in the top of the fifth. Chapman went down in order after a runner was caught stealing by Schaaf in the home half of the stanza. BC left a runner stranded again in the sixth and the home team pounced. Chapman strung together a pair of hits after an inning opening error at first base to make it 6-1. Elena Williams came on in relief and got out of the jam for the Eagles with a flyout and a strikeout.
• Bridgewater did not go down without a fight as Brianna Petrolia started the rally with one out as she connected on the first pitch she saw for a single. The next batter struckout, but Jordan Wise drew a walk to extend the game. Mueller stepped in next and singled the opposite way, allowing Petrolia to score. Savage added to the rally as she turned on a pitch and it found its way to the outfield. Wise scored while an error sent Mueller and Savage to third and second. Kaelyn Ramsey dug in next and hit a grounder to third, but the Panthers botched the play as the throw bounced well before the bag at first. Mueller and Savage scored to bring up the potential leading run in the form of Schaaf. The BC catcher extended her at bat but ended up going down on strikes, leaving the tying run on first.
Match Notes,
• Cauthorn (2-1) took the loss after surrendering three earned runs in 3.2 innings of work. Savage and Mueller anchored BC’s attack with three and two hits respectively.
• Malen (4-2) picked up the win for the Panthers after the complete-game effort. Helms and Lobato each had a pair of hits in the win for the #24 team in the country.

Up Next
Bridgewater continues its stay in southern California as it takes on #4 Redlands on Monday afternoon.

— BC Athletics —