Box Score SALEM, Va. – In the consolation round of the 2014 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) softball tournament, the Bridgewater Eagles softball team took a three-run lead early in the contest but couldn't hold off Eastern Mennonite in the final innings in a 4-3 loss to the Royals at the James I. Moyer Complex.
Bridgewater tagged three runs on the board in the first inning to take a comfortable lead after an inning of play. Kasey Anderson led off the frame with a single up the middle and Karie Burgess drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Following a sacrifice bunt from the bat of Lauren Jenkins which moved the runners to second and third, Brea Hinegardner lifted a pitch to center field for a double, scoring Anderson and Burgess for a 2-0 lead. Samantha Fridley later singled home Hinegardner to put Bridgewater out in front, 3-0.
After a scoreless second inning, Eastern Mennonite pulled to within a single run at a 3-2 tally in the third. Brooke Sigrist singled and swiped second base prior to being pushed home on a single from Jordan Aylor to cut the gap to 3-1. Molly Smith followed with a run-scoring double to left-center to trim the Bridgewater advantage to 3-2.
Bridgewater stranded a runner in the fourth before the Royals responded with two runs to take a 4-3 advantage. Sigrist drew a one-out walk and was sent to second on an Aylor single. Smith chased home both runners with a triple to right-center to push the Royals out to a 4-3 lead.
Aylor allowed just two Bridgewater base runners over the final innings and silenced the Eagles bats to send the Eagles home with a 4-3 loss.
Anderson led the offense with a 3-for-4 game and a run scored. The Chatham, Va. native rounded out her career with a school-record 99 stolen bases and the fourth-highest total runs scored with 141. Hinegardner pushed home two runs in the finale to wrap up a solid career with the Eagles. The Woodstock, Va. native belted 15 career home runs which is tied for ninth on the career list.
Brianna Cox was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits in a complete-game effort.
Four Eastern Mennonite batters pounded out two hits in the contest while Smith led the way with three RBI. Aylor picked up the win after allowing three runs on seven hits.
The contest was the final game for veteran head coach Donnie Fulk who announced his retirement earlier in the year. Fulk, who just wrapped up his 23rd year with the Eagles, leaves the program with 598 career wins which ranks 23rd all-time at the Division III level. His 598 wins is ranked 17th on the active list.
Bridgewater wraps up the 2014 season with a 20-19-1 overall record.
