VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (BC Athletics) – The Bridgewater College Softball team fell to No. 1 Va. Wesleyan 1-0 in a thriller in game one of the ODAC Championship Series.
Records: Bridgewater 29-15, Va. Wesleyan 44-0
How It Happened
• BC went down in order in the top of the first, while the top ranked Marlins led off the bottom of the first with a base hit. The runner swiped second, but Mackenzie Cauthorn regrouped as she induced a groundout to Andrea Savage that held the lead runner, while a groundout to Lily Moyers at first and a pop up to McKenna Mueller ended the frame.
• The Eagles went down in order in the second. A one-out walk gave VWU a base runner, but a punchout by Cauthorn and a web-gem by Savage ta third stifled the chance. Cauthorn registered BC’s first hit in the top of the third, but a groundout to third ended the frame with her at first.
• The Marlins opened the bottom of the third with a walk, but a fly out and a good play by Savage to get the lead runner on a fielder’s choice limited another VWU chance.
• The Marlins stranded a runner in the fourth after another walk, but BC got to it in the top of the fifth. Jordan Wise singled back up the middle to start the inning, but a strikeout and an infield pop up put two quick outs on the board. Kaelyn Ramsey stepped in next and legged out an infield hit to put a pair of runners on. Cauthorn dug in next and drilled a ball, but a nifty play at shortstop ended the threat. BC looked to strike again in the sixth as Caroline Malandra doubled to the wall in left field with one out. McKenna Mueller followed with a four-pitch walk, but a strikeout and a groudnout ended the threat again.
• The Marlins opened the bottom of the sixth with a double to left center. BC got a quick out as the next pitch was popped up to Mueller in the infield, but Knight followed with a single to left field as Mcqueen scored to give the Marlins the lead. BC regrouped thanks to a flyout to center field and another punchout by Cauthorn to end the frame. BC came to the plate needing a rally, but a pair of strikeouts and a foul pop up in deep right field kept the Marlins’ unblemished record intact.
Match Notes
• Cauthorn (16-8) went the distance for BC as she allowed just three hits. The senior also broke the program record for innings pitched in a single-season as she now sits at 156.2 frames on the year. Malandra, Wise, Ramsey and Cauthorn all registered hits for BC as the Eagles are the only team to outhit the Marlins this season.
• Hearl (23-0) went the distance as she struckout seven. Knight, Mcqueen and Campbell all registered hits for VWUas they went five innings without a hit in the middle of the game.
UP NEXT
The two sides will re-rack and play on Saturday in game two at 1 p.m. with game three to follow at 3 p.m. with a Bridgewater win.
— BC Athletics —
