MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Bridgewater College softball team fell to Ursinus College, 6-5, before defeating Penn College, 3-1, as the Eagles opened their 2015 season at the Snowbird Softball Invitational at the Grand Sports Complex in Myrtle Beach.

In the first game of the day, Ursinus landed on the board first with an unearned run in the top of the second inning. Bridgewater managed to tie the score as Hannah Nyquist hit a triple before scoring a run on a sacrifice bunt from Samantha Bird.

Ursinus surged ahead with a 5-1 lead after two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, Brianna Cox started off a Bridgewater rally by hitting a ball to left field, following an error from Ursinus. Jen Balcom brought Cox home on a double to give the Eagles their first run of the inning.

Nyquist and Brooke Throckmorton each hit a single to load the bases and Mariah Wharton walked, bringing Balcom home and pulling the Eagles to within 5-3. 

Amanda Lutz brought in Nyquist and Throckmorton on a single to tie the game heading into the seventh inning. With both teams unable to break the tie, the game went to an eighth inning where Ursinus earned the final run of the day for the 6-5 victory.

Lutz pitched 6 innings in the circle, striking out seven hitters and walking four. Bird tallied the Eagles' only RBI as the Eagles' scored four unearned runs in the contest.

Arastina Barry was 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Ursinus, and five other Bears also had multi-hit performances.

In the second game against Penn College, the Eagles were first to land on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning as Rayann Foltz doubled to center field, scoring Ryan Kirtner.

Balcom hit a double to bring in Foltz for the second run, giving the Eagles a 2-0 edge. Foltz would hit another double in the bottom of the sixth to bring Kirtner home again for a 3-0 advantage.

Penn College managed an unearned run in the top of the seventh but Bridgewater would walk away with the 3-1 victory.

Cox took the win in the circle, pitching six innings for the Eagles. Cox struck out six batters and walked two while Balcom and Foltz earned two RBIs apiece at the plate.

Balcom was 2-for-3 in the victory, while Kirtner was 1-for-2 and scored twice.

Penn College was led by Kayla Jackson (2-for-4), while Nicole Lo Furno was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

The Eagles (1-1) return tomorrow morning when they face Dickinson College at 9:30 a.m. and SUNY Poly at 11:30 a.m.