BUENA VISTA, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College softball team shutout Southern Virginia in a pair of games on Friday evening.

The Basics
Scores: Game 1: Bridgewater 4, Southern Va. 0; Game 2 (5 inn.): Bridgewater 8, Southern Va. 0
Records: Bridgewater 7-3; Southern Virginia 4-10

How It Happened
Game 1
• BC went down in order to open game one and SVU put a runner on via an inning opening walk in the first, but a pair of strikeouts by Evelyn Rhoads stranded the runner. The Eagles wasted no time in getting on the board after the momentum shift from the circle as McKenna Mueller went yard with a solo shot to make it 1-0 six outs in.
• The Knights had a chance to strike back with a pair of hits, but Lexi Schaaf nabbed a runner trying to swipe second to end the inning. BC packed on to the lead in the visiting half of the third as a RBI single by Mueller with two on made 2-0.
• Both teams had chances to strike in the fourth, but once again it was the Eagles adding on in the top of the fifth via another big fly. This time around Kaelyn Ramsey got in on the fun with the first home run of her career with a solo shot to left center making it 3-0.
• SVU went down in order in the home half of the fourth thanks to another Rhoads punchout and Bridgewater quickly put two runners on to open the fifth. Caroline Malandra came around to score on a fielder’s choice as the inning came to a close at a 4-0 lead for the Eagles.
• Both teams had chances to strike down the stretch including SVU putting a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, but a pair of non-routine groundouts to Jordan Wise at second ended the game with a victory for the Eagles.
Match Notes
• Mueller drove in a pair of runs for BC and added a trio of hits. Aniella Baldwin and Ramsey also tossed in three hits to fuel BC’s 11 hits as a squad. Rhoads (1-1) took the victory in the circle allowing six hits and retiring six on strikes in the shutout.
• Prymak took the loss in the circle for SVU. Manuleleu accounted for two of the Knight’s six hits.

Game 2
• Bridgewater wasted no time getting on the board in game two. Baldwin walked to leadoff the contest, stole second and a bunt by Ramsey for a hit put runners on the corners with no outs. Wise dug in next and delivered with a poke through the right side to drive in both runners and make it 2-0 for BC.
• SVU went down in order through the opening two frames and finally got a pair of runners aboard in the third, but left both stranded.
• The Eagles offense erupted in the top of the fourth to the tune of six runs on eight hits. Leiah Branch and Mackenzie Cauthorn each singled to open the frame and a sacrifice bunt moved the duo over. Baldwin followed with a single the opposite way to bring pinch-runner Molly Ecroyd in to score and make it 3-0. Baldwin stole second and a poke followed by Ramsey to drive in Cauthorn. Wise singled up the middle during the next at bat and drove in both Ramsey and Baldwin to make it 6-0. SVU made a pitching change, but a base knock by Skyler Buzbee drove in two more runs to make it 8-0.
• The Knights finally got out of the marathon inning and put a runner on, but a pair of punchouts by Cauthorn silenced SVU.
• BC put a runner on in the fifth, but left Baldwin stranded after a crazy catch in centerfield. SVU came up to the plate with their backs against the wall and Cauthorn sealed the deal with a punchout and a pair of groundouts.

Match Notes
• Seven different Eagles recorded multiple hits in the game two run-rule victory, led by Branch’s 3-for-3 effort. Cauthron took home the shutout victory allowing just two hits in 5.0 innings of work.
• SVU was limited to just three base runners. Stauffer took the loss in the circle for SVU after giving up all eight runs earned.

Up Next
The Eagles are back in action in short time with contests against Mary Washington and Greensboro on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

— BC Athletics —