BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College softball team extended its historic streak to seven straight shutouts after a pair of clean sheets against Gettysburg on Sunday.

Game 1
The Basics
Score: Bridgewater 7, Averett 0
Records: Bridgewater 15-4, Gettysburg 6-7

How It Happened
• Gettysburg quickly put the first two batters of the game on base after a hit and an error, but a pair of pop-ups and Mackenzie Cauthorn’s first punchout of the afternoon ended the threat. BC returned the favor as Caroline Malandra drew a four-pitch walk and immediately stole second. She moved to third base after a groundout as McKenna Mueller delivered with a base rip through the left side to drive her in and make it 1-0.
• The Bullets opened the top of the third with a double. GC laid down a bunt that fell perfectly into a hole to allow everyone to advance a base, but the runner at third rounded the bag too much as Andrea Savage tossed it to Mueller to get the lead runner out. Savage recorded the next two outs of the frame on a pop-up and a groundout to end another threat.
• The Eagles blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth. Mueller opened the frame with a walk, and Lily Moyers followed with a single. The Eagles laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the pair over, and Lexi Schaaf delivered next. The catcher singled to left field to drive in Mueller and make it 2-0. Savage stepped inan out later and ripped a ball down the left-field line to drive in Moyers and Schaaf to make it 4-0. Cauthorn singled, and BC moved the runners into scoring position, but they were left stranded.
• Cauhtorn continued to deal in the circle. Gettysburg broke a streak in the top of the sixth with a leadoff walk and a single a few batters later, but another Cauthorn strikeout ended the threat again.
• BC added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth. The Eagles put a runner on and Savage came through again as she doubled down the line once more to drive in a run. Cauthron followed with a single to put runners on the corners, and Malandra followed with a double to left field to drive in two more to make it 7-0. Kylie Jones came in to cap off the contest for BC in the circle. She opened with a punchout, but GC put a runner on with a double. She regrouped and induced a pair of groundouts to secure the win.
Match Notes,
• Cauthorn (8-2) took the win in game one with 6.0 innings of work as she struck out five and allowed four hits. Savage led the attack with three RBI for BC. Cauthorn tossed in a pair of hits for the Eagles, while Malandra drove in a pair of runs and drew a pair of walks.
• Bond (2-2) took the loss for Gettysburg. Bergan had a pair of hits for the GC offense.

Game 2
The Basics
Score: Bridgewater 3, Gettysburg 0
Records: Bridgewater 16-4, Gettysburg 6-8

How It Happened
• Evelyn Rhoads got the call in game two and did not skip a beat as GC went down in order. Malandra reached to open the bottom of the first, and Baldwin wore a pitch to put a pair of runners on with no outs. Mueller followed with an infield hit that scored Malandra and gave the Eagles the lead. Moyers moved the runners over on a bunt, and Schaaf followed as she drilled a pitch off the foul pole just below the top of the fence to keep it in the ballpark. She easily reached second as she cleared the bases and made it 3-0.
• Rhoads continued to roll as Gettysburg continued to go down in order. Rhoads completed the first trip through the order perfectly, capped off by a strikeout.
• The Eagles put a runner on in the bottom of the third and fourth frames, but left them stranded.
• The BC defense had backed up Rhoads for four complete frames without flaw, but with one gone in the fifth, Gettysburg got its first base runner on an error. Rhoads quickly regrouped as a strikeout and a comebacker left the runner stranded.
• Gettysburg was silenced by Rhoads again in the sixth as the no-hit bid was sent to the seventh. BC stranded an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Gettysburg still had life. The Bullets broke up the no-hit bid as a bloop single dropped back up the middle for a hit with no outs in the seventh. A fielder’s choice went ary for BC as it looked to get the lead runner at second a batter later. The runner beat the throw and the tying run came to the plate with no outs. Once again Rhoads regrouped. She recorded a strikeout, but a groundout followed to move both runners into scoring position. BC’s hurler was unfazed as the first pitch of the next at-bat was popped up to Skyler Buzbee behind the dish, and she made the play to secure the win.
Match Notes,
• Rhoads (7-1) tossed her third consecutive shutout and was three outs away from a no-hitter. She allowed just one hit and struck out six Bullets. Mueller, Schaaf and Ramsey accounted for BC’s hits as Schaaf drove in a pair of runs.
• Waring (2-3) took the loss for GC. Laplaunt tossed 2.0 innings hitless, in relief. Shaw had the lone Gettysburg hit.

Up Next
Bridgewater will extend its shutout streak to 14 days before it takes on Guilford on Saturday in Greensboro.

— BC Athletics —