BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – The No. 10 nationally ranked Bridgewater College baseball team had its late offensive push spoiled in a 15-9 setback against Mary Washington Wednesday at home.
Records: BC (29-9), UMW (22-10)
How It Happened
• Both teams exhibited scoring rallies late in the game, and neither team could maintain a steady hold for momentum until the ninth inning as both teams faced back-and-forth momentum swings. UMW opened the scoring to take an early 3-0 lead with a three-run home run in the second inning.
• The UMW Eagles added to the offensive rhythm in the fourth inning as UMW’s Ryan Henson sent out his second home run of the day to make the lead stand 5-0, but then the BC Eagles slowly chipped away, beginning to hit their stride heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Zack Chadwell ignited the offense with a solo shot to right center for the first run on the board.
• Shortly after, Trent Holland executed a sacrifice bunt to score Chandler Valbak to lower the deficit to three runs. More runners crowded the bases and as result, more runs followed. Holland came up again in the sixth inning and scored in Bransen Hensley on the sacrifice fly to tally a third run on the board and a two-run deficit. In the seventh inning, BC continued its offensive burst as Valbak ripped a double to knock in Nick Stavros for a one-run game. Bransen Hensley was then given the reigns to do damage, and he delivered; smacking a single in tough territory through the infield to bring home Valbak and Chadwell. The home Eagles headed into the eighth inning with the first lead of the game.
• From there, both teams exchanged lead changes and momentum swings. UMW quickly snuffed the lead from BC in the eighth inning with an RBI single to knot the score at six apiece. BC rolled ahead again to claim a three-run advantage as TJ Johnson scored on a wild pitch to get the action going. Stavros then barreled a single to left field to score Ashton Smith, which was followed up with a Bransen Hensley RBI to clamp a 9-6 edge late in the game.
• However, no lead was safe. UMW answered in a big way, and this time, the offensive surge sealed the game in the ninth inning with a commanding nine-run frame. The BC Eagles could not find the answer after the explosive ninth inning, and the UMW Eagles went on to take a 15-9 win.
Game Notes
• Bransen Hensley led the Eagles offensively with three hits, three RBIs, and one run.
• Bridgewater struggled to score in runners on base stranding 12, while Mary Washington left only six on base, respectively.
• Bridgewater doubled Mary Washington with eight total strikeouts across eight pitchers.
Up Next
The Eagles are back in action for the final two games of the season as they face Hampden-Sydney on the road on Saturday, April 25.
— BC Athletics —
