BRIDGEWATER, Va. (BC Athletics) – Bridgewater baseball took down nationally recognized Shenandoah in walk-off home run fashion to complete the comeback and to secure an 8-5 win at home Tuesday.

Records: BCE (13-7-1 OVR, 5-2-1 ODAC), SU (16-7 OVR, 7-2 ODAC)

How It Happened
• Although fighting close with SU all game, the Hornets stayed in control of the momentum holding onto a sturdy lead up until the ninth inning when the Eagles broke open the offense and hustled out every ball put in play. The Hornets, feeling the tides beginning to turn, gave up runs off errors while not converting the third out before the Eagles went on a rampage; racking up five runs in the closing frame.
• To start out, the Hornets struck first with a solo shot over the wall for the opening point of the game in the first inning. Chandler Valbak then reached out to lift a ball in the outfield causing the infield to make a quick play on the speedy baserunner, Nick Stavros, but the throw went wild allowing Stavros to touch home.
• In the third inning, SU went ahead with a tough grounder to shortstop, as Isaac Sumpter was not able to make a play on the ball letting a run to score. Next inning, SU continued its rhythm in its offense to string together a two-run knock making the score 4-1, Hornets.
• Both bullpens settled down and did not give up a run until the seventh inning. SU recorded its final run with an RBI single through the right side. The Eagles took care of the rest as Tyler Jones came in for relief in the eighth and got the job done on the mound while the offense began its scoring surge. Jake Harris got the started the sequence with a single to deep center field bringing home Zack Chadwell. Then, Bryce Suters followed suit, ripping a single to left field to knock in Sumpter.
• With just a two-run deficit, the Eagles plunged ahead in the ninth putting together a five-run frame and a walk-off to top it off. Trent Holland hustled down the line beating out a throw at first to score in pinch runner Chase Ford. Then, Spencer Sigmon put pressure on the infield sprinting down the line on a grounder to shortstop but was called safe at first; which allowed the second pinch runner, Jack Hayes to score. Soon, working into the right pitch, Suters finally connected on a pitch in the sweet spot, launching a deep ball over the left-center wall completing the comeback and coming away with a walk-off homerun thriller.

Game Notes
• Bridgewater accomplished its fourth walk-off homerun of the season with walkoffs against McDaniel twice and Dickinson once.
• Bryce Suters had the hot bat in today’s contest racking up four RBIs on three hits and a scored run. The walk-off homer was his second long shot of the season.
• Gary Tompkins earned the win to stand at 3-0, closing out the ninth inning with a pair of strikeouts.

Up Next
The Eagles are back at home Wednesday as they host Mary Washington.

— BC Athletics —