DANVILLE, Va. – Behind outstanding pitching performances in both halves of a non-conference twinbill, the Bridgewater Eagles softball team picked up its 11^th win of the year with a doubleheader sweep over Averett (8-10) at Cougar Field. Bridgewater took game one by a 3-0 score, before posting a 3-1 victory in nine innings in the nightcap.

Bridgewater (11-1) is off to its best start since the 2009 season when the squad won its first 13 games.

After three scoreless innings in the opener, the Eagles bats came alive when a Hillary Rees double to lead off the fourth put a runner in scoring position. Sophomore Kasey Anderson grounded out during the ensuing at-bat before right fielder Aven Thomas drilled a double to right, plating Rees to put the Eagles up 1-0.

Bridgewater added an insurance run in the fourth when Jenkins scored on an Anderson single through the left side, extending the Eagles' lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, gutsy base running from the Eagles turned into a run as a double-steal attempt allowed Rees to score from third to put Bridgewater up 3-0 after five complete.

Over the final two innings, Jenkins controlled play from the circle and held the Cougars in check as the Eagles eventually rolled to a 3-0 victory in the opener.

Rees paced the Eagles with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. The Mount Crawford, Va. native scored two of the three runs in her first game back in the starting lineup after not starting in three games in Florida. Rees also swiped two bases in the win.

In the circle, Jenkins was lights out yet again. The reigning ODAC Pitcher of the Week surrendered just four hits while punching out five batters at the plate to earn her third shutout win of the year.

Averett was paced offensively by four players with a hit each, while starting pitcher Leah Powell picked up the loss, allowing three runs on seven Bridgewater hits.

In the nightcap, the Eagles squandered numerous opportunities at the plate and left a dozen base runners on over the first seven innings, while junior hurler Aven Thomas held the Cougars in check to force extras.

Bridgewater finally scraped out a run in the top of the eighth when an Ann Komara single advanced sophomore Brea Hinegardner to third base. During the ensuing at bat, Thomas reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Hinegardner to score, pushing the Eagles ahead 1-0 after seven-and-a-half innings of play.

Averett managed to plate a run before the final out was recorded to tie the game at a run each to send the game to the ninth inning.

In the top of the ninth, junior Morgan Williams reached base on an error on the first baseman, which allowed Anderson to score from second, pushing the Eagles ahead 2-1. Later in the inning, Bridgewater scored its all-important second run of the inning when Amanda Lutz reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Williams to extend the lead to 3-1 in favor of the Eagles.

Thomas put the Cougars away in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win by a 3-1 score.

At the plate, Anderson paced the way for the Eagles with a 4-for-5 game, while Komara and Melanie Lamb chipped in a pair of 3-for-5 efforts in the win. Bridgewater stranded 14 runners in the win.

Thomas was outstanding in the circle for the Eagles. The junior allowed just four hits and struck out five to earn her fourth victory of the season.

Averett was paced offensively by four players with a hit each, while Powell picked up the loss in the relief effort for the Cougars allowing three unearned runs in three innings of work.

Bridgewater is back in action on Thursday when Mary Washington comes to town for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.