BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College softball team split a doubleheader with Christopher Newport on Wednesday.

Game 1
Score: Bridgewater 6, Christopher Newport 5
Records: Bridgewater 19-6, Christopher Newport 17-8

How It Happened
• CNU struck first in the opening stanza as a single and a walk put the first two runners on. A long at bat saw CNU earn a walk and load the bases with no outs. A wild pitch allowed the lead runner to score from third, but Mackenzie Cauthorn started to settle in from there as a foul flyout got the first out. CNU drew a walk to load the bases again, but a pop-up to the catcher and a groundout saw the frame come to a close with the bases loaded.
• The Eagles stranded a runner in the bottom of the first after a CNU error, while the Captains stranded a pair of runners in the top of the second after a pair of hits. Another CNU error put Lily Moyers on in the bottom of the second, and Molly Ecroyd came on to run. Olivia Eastlake laid down a bunt and beat the throw to put a pair of runners aboard. Jordan Wise followed suit and was thrown out on the sacrifice to move both runners into scoring position. Andrea Savage stepped in next and laid down another bunt. CNU opted to throw her out at first, allowing Ecroyd to score and make it 1-1.
• Cauthorn responded well with the lead as she used a pair of strikeouts to work through the CNU order quickly. BC used the momentum in the bottom of the thirdas Cauthorn led off the frame with a single. Malandra stepped in next and connected to center field and kept on running as her base rip hit the wall. Malandra cleared the bases with her triple to give BC a 2-1 lead. Aniella Baldwin grounded out next as Malandra scored to extend the lead to 3-1.
• CNU wrestled the lead back in the top of the fourth as a walk and a double put a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. A fielder’s choice loaded the bases, and the Captains lifted a ball to right field, but it fell out of the Eagles’ glove, allowing two runners to score and tie the game. A wild pitch one out later allowed the runner on third base to score and put CNU in front 4-3.BC put a runner on in the home half of the fourth, but she was caught stealing to silence the threat.
• Lightning struck during the first at-bat of the fifth inning, literally. A 40-minute lightning delay ensued, allowing both teams to regroup. Cauthorn came out of the delay in a fresh mindset as she recorded a pair of strikeouts to end the frame. BC’s offense used the reset as well. Byrum drew a walk and moved around to third with two outs. Baldwin singled back up the middle, narrowly beating the throw from the pitcher, to drive in Byrum and level the contest at 4-4. BC wasn’t done there as it struck again in the sixth. Eastlake opened the frame with a double off the wall in right field and moved over to third. Savage stepped up next and grounded a ball to first base, but smartly took her time getting to the bag in a legal pick-play to allow Eastlke to score easily, and take the lead. The Eagles added to the advantage as Byrum singled next and Cauthron followed with a base rip. The Captains did not get the ball in cleanly, as an attempted throw to third allowed Byrum to come around and score, making it 6-4.
• CNU went down swinging as the irts pitch of the seventh inning was hammered over the wall in right field for a solo home run. Cauthorn regrouped again and induced a groundout and a pop-up to bring the final out to the dish. The Captains opted for a pinch hitter, but Cauthorn put her down on strikes for BC’s first win over CNU since 2021.
Match Notes,
• Cauthorn (10-3) tossed her 33rd complete game to tie her four eighth-most in program history. She fanned seven CNU hitters in the win. Baldwin and Savage each fueled the offense with a pair of RBI, while Eastlake and Cauthorn each had a pair of hits.
• Sparger (10-5)took the loss for CNU in the circle. Slaw led the Captains’ offense with a pair of hits and runs scored.

Game 2
Score: Christopher Newport 11, Bridgewater 0 (Five Innings)
Records: Bridgewater 19-7, Christopher Newport 18-8

How It Happened
• The Captains struck early as an infield single put a runner on. The runner stole a pair of bases and came in on a groundout to make it 1-0. BC got out of the inning and put a runner on with a two-out knock by McKenna Mueller, but she was left stranded.
• CNU added to the lead in the top of the second after two quick outs. The visitors drew a walk, but a pair of hits followed to drive in two runs. The hammer fell as Zuber went yard again for the Captains with a two-run shot over East Riverside Dr. to make it 5-0. Elena Williams came on in relief and recorded the final out of the frame via the strikeout.
• Lexi Schaaf singled with one away in the bottom of the second for BC, and Byrum followed with another infield hit to put a pair of runners on. A sharp lineout ended the threat for BC, stranding the two runners.
• Both teams went down in order in the third stanza, but CNU added to the lead in the top of the fourth. The Captains opened the frame with a single and advanced the runner on a sacrifice bunt. The net hitter walked as Slaw followed with a two-run double to make it 7-0. The next Captain drew a walk to put runners on the corners, and a single drove in the lead runner. CNU followed with two more base rips to stretch the lead to 11-0 after a double. Two runners left early to end the frame.
• Both BC and CNU went down in order in their next trips to the dish. Bridgewater opened the bottom of the fifth as Sarah Kate Tozier reached on an infield hit. The next Eagle hit into a fielder’s choice, but Katie DeGirolamo followed with a two-out single to extend the fifth inning. Ecroyd dug in next, but a leaping lineout to the third baseman ended the frame and the contest.

Match Notes,
• Kylie Jones ((1-2) took the loss for BC in the circle after tossing the opening 1.2 innings of work. DeGirolamo, Mueller, Schaaf, Byrum and Tozier tallied the hits for BC.
• Aiello (1-0) picked up the win for CNU in her season debut. Slaw and Zuber each led the Captains with a pair of hits as Slaw drove in three runs.

Up Next
Bridgewater enjoys nearly a week without a game before hosting EMU on April 7.

— BC Athletics —