HARRISONBURG, Va. (BC Athletics) – Bridgewater College baseball swept DeSales in a three-game series to start the season and won both games in the doubleheader with a 10-6 win in the first game and a 9-5 win the second game at JMU Veteran’s Memorial Park Saturday.

The Bridgewater College Eagles (BC) have moved to 3-0 to open the season, and the DeSales Bulldogs (DU) have dropped to 0-3.

How It Happened

Game 1
• As soon as the Eagles got the runs on the board, the lead stayed firmly in their favor. In the third inning, BC collected three runs to open the score kicking off with an RBI single by Chandler Valbak to knock in Jake Harris. Nick Stavros then doubled to left field to bring home Valbak. Stavros hustled to third on the play. Trent Holland helped to add the third run with a sacrifice fly to send home Stavros.
• DeSales responded with a run in the fourth inning on an RBI single, but Evan Bert stopped the offense short, and the defense closed it out. In the bottom of the frame, the Eagles quickly responded back with a fourth run off another hit by Valbak. Bryce Suters came around to score.
• The Bulldogs dwindled the Bridgewater lead with two runs in the fifth, making it a one-run game. The Eagles did not panic and stormed ahead with three more runs. Jakson Walter barreled a shot to left field to snag two bases while scoring in Holland and Zack Chadwell. A third run scored with runners on the corners. An errant throw played by the catcher off the bat of Suters scored in Walter.
• At a 7-3 advantage, DeSales attempted another comeback, earning three runs in the sixth inning from a pair of singles and a throwing error by Matthew Bishop. The Eagles returned the favor with three runs of their own at the bottom of the frame to safely snag the first game of the doubleheader. Walter tripled to clear the bases, resulting in a 10-6 win.

Game 2
• BC had to adjust in the second game of the doubleheader after finding itself in a 2-0 hole after two innings. DeSales got on the board first with an RBI double and an infield single. Shortly after, the Eagles pushed forward. In the second inning, Bryce Suters helped the Eagles get on the board to score in Jakson Walter off a fielder’s choice.
• The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the third inning off a sacrifice fly and continued the offense the next inning, adding two more runs with a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error by Nick Stavros. DeSales led 5-1.
• The Eagles then took over from there, adding the remaining runs in the game. In the bottom of the fifth, BC poured on four runs to tie the score at five apiece. Spencer Sigmon got the scoring started with an RBI single up the middle to score in Ashton Smith. Chandler Valbak followed with a sacrifice fly to knock in Bryce Suters. With bases loaded, Trent Holland and Jakson Walter worked walks with bases loaded to help bring Sigmon and Bransen Hensley around.
• The next inning, the Eagles charged ahead off another sacrifice fly by Hensley, helping to score Bryce Suters. Then, Zack Chadwell capped off the contest with a three-run no doubter over the right field wall bringing home Stavros and Sigmon. BC closed out the game with a 9-5 win.

Game Notes
Game 1
• Freshman Jakson Walter shined in the first game of the doubleheader with five RBIs.
• Nick Stavros led off the batters effectively, tallying two runs scored, three hits, and one RBI.
• Evan Bert earned the win in his first of the season with a stat line of eight hits, three earned runs, three strikeouts, and one walk.

Game 2
• Zack Chadwell collected his first home run of the season.
• Bridgewater worked four walks in the second game of the doubleheader.
• Caleb Grizzard earned the win on the mound for his first career win for Bridgewater with a stat line of two innings pitched, one walk, and two strikeouts.

Up Next
The Eagles return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 17 to face SVU at home. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

— BC Athletics —