KISSIMMEE, Fla. – On the opening day of the Rebel Spring Games, timely hitting and effective pitching propelled the Bridgewater Eagles softball team to victories over Thomas More and Catholic. Bridgewater earned a 2-0 victory in the opener over the Saints before coming from behind for a 9-7 victory in extra innings against Catholic.

Sophomore Brea Hinegardner put the first run of the game on the board in the second on a single to shallow right field, plating Melanie Lamb to put the Eagles up 1-0 after two innings of play.

Bridgewater tagged an insurance run on the board in the fourth when Heather Jenkins helped her own cause with an RBI single to right field, which scored Hinegardner to build the Eagles lead to 2-0.

The Eagles had an opportunity in the sixth to put some more distance between themselves and the Saints, but left the sacks full with a 2-0 lead heading to the final frame.

Jenkins went back out for the seventh and slammed the door to seal the 2-0 victory for the Eagles.

Hinegardner paced the Eagles at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort with a run scored and an RBI.

Jenkins went the distance to pick up the complete game four-hit shutout victory for the Eagles.

Thomas More was paced offensively by a two-hit game from Stephany Turner.

Sara Young picked up the loss for the Saints, allowing both runs in six innings in the circle.

In game number two of the day, the Eagles took an early lead before having to come from behind for the win in extra innings.

Bridgewater opened a two-run lead after the top of the first inning off of a Lamb single. Lamb's two-RBI single plated Kasey Anderson and Hillary Rees to put the Eagles ahead 2-0 after one inning of play.

Catholic cut the Eagles' lead to 2-1 in the third on a single to centerfield, before the Cardinals tallied three hits and took advantage of three Bridgewater errors in the field to gain a 4-2 lead after four frames.

In the top of the fifth, Hinegardner got the scoring started with a pinch-hit double, plating Thomas before Hinegardner was driven home on the ensuing at-bat on a single to right field from the bat of Sarah Goodman to knot the game at four each.

Catholic again applied the pressure to Bridgewater in the home half of the fifth when the Cardinals taliled a pair of runs to take a 6-4 lead after five innings of play.

Bridgewater again answered the Catholic offense with a pair of runs of its own when Anderson scored junior Morgan Williams on a single and Thomas reached on an error, plating Anderson to tie the game up at 6-6 after five and a half.

Reliever Summer Ramsey shut the door on Catholic in the sixth, before Jenkins stymied the Cardinals in the seventh to push the game into extras.

In the top of the eighth, Bridgewater got the scoring started when Jenkins crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Following an Anderson single and a stolen base, Lamb tagged a single to second base, scoring Anderson and Rees to put the Eagles ahead 9-6.

Jenkins went back out in the eighth and surrendered a run in the bottom of the inning, but slammed the door from there to end the game handing the Eagles a 9-7 win.

At the plate, Anderson and Lamb paced the way. Anderson turned in a 3-for-5 game to lead the Eagles in hits, while Lamb notched a 2-for-4 game with four RBI in the victory.

In the circle, Jenkins tossed two innings of relief to earn the win. The lone run surrendered was unearned due to the international tie break procedure.

Catholic was paced offensively by a 4-for-4 effort from Amy Laughner, while starting pitcher Erin McMakin went the distance to earn the loss.

Bridgewater is back in action on Wednesday when it tangles with Sage and Coast Guard as part of the Rebel Spring Games.