LYNCHBURG, Va. (BC Athletics) – Mackenzie Cauthorn of the Bridgewater College Softball team broke the program’s career strikeout record as the Eagles dropped a pair of games to Lynchburg on Sunday.
Game 1
The Basics
Score: Lynchburg 5, Bridgewater 4 (Eight Innings)
Records: Bridgewater 23-8 (10-3 ODAC), Lynchburg 20-11 (9-2 ODAC)
How It Happened
• Caroline Malandra opened the game with a double the opposite way, but she was put out on a double play during the next at-bat. McKenna Mueller followed with a single, but she was left stranded.
• Lynchburg opened the home half of the first with a single, and an out later put runners on the corners. A walk loaded the bases before another pushed the Hornets’ first run across. A wild pitch pushed another run across for Lynchburg, and a sacrifice flyout followed to make it 3-0. A lineout to Mueller ended the frame, but BC was trailing early.
• The Eagles struck back in the top of the second as Lily Moyers opened the frame with a base rip. A bunt moved her into scoring position, and Andrea Savage continued to swing well as she singled the opposite way to drive in Moyers and put BC on the board. Cauthorn followed with a single later in the frame, but BC left both runners stranded.
• Cauthorn regrouped in the circle on her chase for history. The senior opened the bottom of the second with a pair of strikeouts and settled in. Lynchburg adjusted the box and added to the lead. A two-out single put a runner on and an infield hit allowed her to score after swiping second earlier in the at-bat, making it 4-1.
• Both sides traded chances and left runner stranded until the top of the sixth. Bridgewater cashed in as a trio of singles loaded the bases for McKenna Dayton. The rookie singled back up the middle, driving Mueller in to make it 4-2. A double play during the next at bat sqaundered BC’s momentum as Abby Byrum was thrown out on her way to home, and a flyout ended the frame. Cauthorn struck out a Hornet looking in the bottom of the sixth to tie the program record with her 344th career strikeout and continued BC’s momentum swing. She stretched it even further as she led off the top of the seventh with a single. Her pinch runner was put out on a fielder’s choice, but the speedy Anielle Baldwin reached on the play and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mueller followed with a double to drive in Baldwin, and BC was in business. Byrum did the same thing as she doubled, and Mueller scored to tie the game at 4-4. Lynchburg made a pitching change, and the inning continued as Moyers was tagged by a pitch, but a groundout got the Hornets out of the jam.
• Lynchburg left the winning run on second after a nice defensive play by Byrum to send the game to extra innings. BC moved the tie-break runner to third on a bunt, but a pair of groundouts left Dayton stranded at third. Lynchburg moved its runner to third on a sacrifice bunt as well, but a walk put runners on the corners. Cauthorn regrouped and struck out the next hitter she faced to break the program record and get the second out of the eighth. Love stepped in next and singled up the middle to walk it off for the Hornets.
Match Notes,
• Cauthorn (12-4) tossed her 36th complete game as she tallied her 345th career strikeout to pass Ashley Gills ’10 for the BC record. Mueller, Byrum, Moyers and Cauthorn all tallied multiple hits as BC out-hit Lynchburg despite the end result.
• Booth (4-4) picked up the win for Lynchburg in the relief effort. Love was the only Hornet with multiple hits, but Talayumptewa walked three times.
Game 2
The Basics
Score: Lynchburg 6, Bridgewater 1
Records: Bridgewater 23-9 (10-4 ODAC), Lynchburg 21-11 (10-2 ODAC)
How It Happened
• Bridgewater struck first game two in the loudest of fashions. Mueller took her 1-1 pitch for a ride as she homered to left field to make it 1-0 for the Eagles early.
• Evelyn Rhoads got the start in game two and worked effectively as she got through the first unscathed. BC looked to add to the lead as Lexi Schaaf walked, and a fielder’s choice put Leiah Branch on with just one out. BC moved the pair into scoring position on a wild pitch, but a groundout ended the frame.
• Both squads left runners on base in the third frame, but BC left a pair of runners on in the fourth after back-to-back hits by Branch and Kaelyn Ramsey. Rhoads continued to deal in the fourth as the Hornets went down in order in under 10 pitches.
• Lynchburg made adjustments in the box ahead of the fifth, with BC still in front 1-0. The Hornets put a pair of runners on with just one out, but a pair of pop-ups to the infield squandered the chance. Schaaf doubled with one out in the top of the sixth, and a groundout moved her pinch runner, Sarah Kate Tozier, to third. Branch drew another walk to add more pressure, but a pop-up ended the chance for the Eagles.
• BC got two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth, but a pair of singles gave Lynchburg life. A passed ball moved the runners up, and a ground ball followed, but it bounced over the glove of Malandra at second and scored both runners. Lynchburg followed with a pair of singles to drive another run across before a double blew it open to a 5-1 lead. BC made a change in the circle, but a pair of walks loaded the bases. Elena Williams came in and walked the first batter she faced to make it 6-1, but a flyout ended the inning. BC attempted to rally in the seventh with its back to the wall. Malandra singled with one out, but a fielder’s choice and a flyout ended the chance of another massive seventh inning.
Match Notes,
• Rhoads (9-3) took the decision for BC despite not allowing an earned run, as a key error led to Lynchburg’s massive inning. Mueller paced BC’s offense in game two with a pair of hits, including the home run.
• Bryant (2-1) took the win for Lynchburg as she went the full distance. Schlidt and Maddux had a pair of hits for Lynchburg in the win as Orange drove in a pair of runs.
Up Next
Bridgewater is back in action on Wednesday with another key ODAC showdown on the road. This time BC heads to Shenandoah for a pair of contests.
— BC Athletics —
