HARRISONBURG, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College baseball team earned the series sweep over Eastern Mennonite with a 19-10 victory on Wednesday evening.

THE BASICS

Final Score: Bridgewater 19, EMU 10
Records: Bridgewater 22-12 (10-7 ODAC), EMU 10-20 (6-11 ODAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Eagles started the scoring in the top of the first inning with Jeffrey Snider being walked, then a hit by pitch drawn by Nick Stavros put runners on first and second. Snider was brought home after Brandan Hartman and Jonathan Sexton drew back-to-back walks to make it 1-0. The Royals strung together some defense to get out of the inning.
• EMU bounced back in the home half of the second inning with Aidan Miller hitting a double down the left field line to put a runner in scoring position. Matthew Harding drove a ball up the middle to tie the game at one apiece.
• BC had a powerful third inning to take back the lead. Stavros put a ball in play hitting a single to right field with one out on the scoreboard. Hartman continued the offensive rally hitting a ball through the 5-6 hole. Sexton poked a single to right field to load the bases for Ashton Smith. Smith delivered in a big at-bat hitting a grand slam deep to center field giving Bridgewater the 5-1 lead.
• The bottom of the fourth inning saw the Royals cut the deficit to one with Harding getting on base with a single to left field. A costly error from the Eagles continued the inning and Daniel McGinnis followed it up doubling to center field to score two runs. Logan Mason drove in the final run of the inning hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 5-4.
• Bridgewater delivered another big inning in the top of the fifth inning. Hartman led off the inning using patience reaching first base on a walk, then was advanced when Sexton dropped a single through the left side. Smith continued to dominate at the plate driving in a run after singling to left field. Christian Harris got in on the scoring action hitting another grand slam over the left center field wall increasing the lead to 10-4.
• Stavros began the top of the sixth inning issuing a single to right center. Runners were on first and third after Hartman reached first safely on an error made by the Royals’ short stop. Lucas Bauer plated Stavros from third after a sacrifice fly to center field.
• The lopsided lead held until the bottom of the sixth when EMU put up six runs. A McGinnis single through the left side hole gave the home team its first run of the inning. A walk by Mason loaded the bases for Dylan Hall who earned an RBI after being hit by a pitch. The Eagles tried for the double play to escape the inning, but Alex Gulisano beat out the throw for another run to cross home plate. Nick Arnold and Ethan Spraker brought each had a hit that combined for three more runs to come across and made it a one run game, 11-10.
• The game was tight through the seventh inning, but it all changed in the top of the eighth when Hartman led the inning off with a double to left field. Sexton registered a big hit driving the ball up the middle to increase the lead to two runs. Nick Dawson rallied off one more run in the inning when he singled through the left side.
• The BC offense closed out the game tacking on more offense in the top of the ninth inning. Stavros and Hartman each drew walks which led to Sexton picking up his third RBI of the day dropping a single into center field. With the bases loaded, following a Bauer single, a costly wild pitch plated the second run of the inning. Tristan Gordon got into the RBI column after earning a free base with a walk giving Bridgewater the 16-10 lead. Dawson issued a fly out to center field, but Bauer went for the tag up for fourth run of the inning. Christian Harris scored the final two runs when he dropped in a bloop single down the left field line.
• The Royals tried for a comeback in the bottom of the ninth getting two on base, but the damage was already done. Nick Harris went on to close out the game for the Eagles to win 19-10.

GAME STATS
• Christian Harris and Smith each recorded a grand slam in the contest. This marks the first home run of Christian Harris’ collegiate career, while Smith has homered in four of the last six games played.
• BC had four players with multiple RBIs. Christian Harris led the way with six, Smith finished with five and Sexton had three.
• Sexton was effective at the plate going 4-for-5 while he and Hartman both score four runs.
• Hartman went 2-for-3 at the dish and drew three walks.
• Andrew Baugher tallied his fifth win of the season after getting the start in the game going 3.0 innings allowing one run on two hits and striking out one. Nick Harris gained his first save of the season after coming in in the seventh inning only allowing just two hits and striking out one.
• Damen Tapscott was saddled with the loss after 4.1 innings of work allowing nine runs (five earned) on seven hits, walking five and striking out five.

UP NEXT
Bridgewater returns home this Saturday, April 20 for a doubleheader with Guilford starting at 12 pm. Senior Day festivities will take place prior to the start of the contest.

— BC Athletics —