HARRISONBURG, Va. (BC Athletics) – The No. 9 nationally ranked Bridgewater College baseball team clipped EMU in a tight conference matchup to secure a road victory Wednesday by a final score of 12-10.

Records: BC (28-6, 10-5), EMU (10-21, 1-14)

How It Happened
• Although the Eagles fought hard to stay ahead of the offensive bursts by EMU, the Royals were aiming for a late comeback rally in late innings, while staying on BC’s heels. BC worked every effort to lift continuous offensive drives to keep in front of EMU.
• In the first inning, both teams struck their first punch. BC made the initial move to add two runs to the board with a sacrifice fly by Chandler Valbak and an RBI double by Bransen Hensley. EMU quickly responded to knot the score at two apiece with a run scored by a throwing error on a stolen base and an RBI double.
• In the second inning, BC erupted with the help of the power bat from Zack Chadwell as Chadwell launched a grand slam scoring in Jakson Walter, Nick Stavros, and Ashton Smith. From there, the Eagles rode a four-run lead to make some breathing room, but the Royals continued to plunge ahead. EMU fought back with a two-run response with an RBI single and an RBI double.
• The Eagles stayed aggressive on the offensive push and racked up an additional two runs in the fifth inning. Bryce Suters knocked a solo home run while Nick Stavros worked a walk which led to Jake Harris touching home plate from a wild pitch. BC put back its four-run lead heading into the bottom half of the sixth frame. EMU quickly snuffed the momentum swing by BC, bringing the game back down to a one-run game by the end of the seventh. A pair of RBI singles and a hustled ground out scored the seventh run to leave the inning with a deficit of 8-7.
• BC ignited a late surge to continue its search for a stronger hold for the lead. Chadwell earned an RBI off the scored run by Walter, and Trent Holland answered the call, ripping a double down the left field line to knock in Valbak for the 10-7 advantage. The offensive surge repeated in the ninth as Walter lasered a single down the left field line to score Ashton Smith with Valbak followed suit with an RBI single to sustain the largest lead of the day at 12-7.
• EMU hung in and pushed for a comeback rally in the final inning. The Royals hit a two-run home run to set the tone. EMU then tacked on another late run to make it 12-10 BC. Gary Tompkins was handed the ball to close out the game with the tying run at the plate. Tompkins forced a groundout to get out of the late scare and come away with a 12-10 win.

Game Notes
• Bridgewater led in multiple offensive categories, recording 16 hits and 11 RBIs to EMU’s 13 hits and eight RBIs. BC also worked eight walks to EMU’s five.
• Zack Chadwell led the game with five RBIs along with his 10th home run of the season in grand-slam fashion.
• On the mound, Andrew Baugher earned his third win of the season after pitching three innings in relief along with two hits, two runs, and one strikeout.

Up Next
The Eagles are back in action on Saturday, April 18 to face No. 2 ranked Lynchburg at home in a doubleheader.

— BC Athletics —