Kissimmee, Fla. - The Bridgewater College softball team defeated Bluffton, 9-6, behind a seven-run inning and blew past Beloit, 12-3, during its season opening doubleheader at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., on Sunday.

In the first game against Bluffton, senior Brianna Cox (1-0) was credited the win after pitching a complete game and delivering four strikeouts.

Cox also went 2-for-3 from the plate. Freshman Carlita Tibbs finished 2-for-4 with a home run, recorded three RBI and scored two runs. Freshman Lindsey Talley also added three RBI and a run.

The Beavers got off to quick start by taking a three-run lead in the top of the first inning. Back-to-back walks and a double to left field from Josie McElroy led to a 2-0 advantage for the Beavers. McElroy then reached home plate following a fielding error.

The Eagles (2-0) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second. Tibbs reached home after Lindsey Talley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

However, the Beavers added runs in the third and fourth inning for a 5-1 advantage. Makenzie Schmidt scored a run following a walk with the bases loaded and Brittany Huff homered to centerfield.

Down 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles caught fire with a seven-run rally to take its first lead of the game.

With runners in scoring position, Talley hit a two-RBI single to cut the deficit to 5-4. A Beaver's error led to two more runs by the Eagles, and a three-run homer by Tibbs sealed the victory.

In the second game against Beloit, the Eagles tagged Buccaneers' pitcher Alyssa Boltik (L, 0-1) with 10 hits and five earned runs in 28 at bats.

Sophomore Hannah Trala (W, 1-0) earned the win after five innings of work. She recorded five strikeouts and held the Bucs to two runs on five hits.

Cox led the Eagles offense with five hits, three RBI and four runs. Sophomore Mariah Wharton finished the day with three hits and four RBI, while freshman Victoria Gontarz had two hits and three RBI and sophomore Ryan Kirtner added two hits.

The Eagles took a 2-0 lead with a run in the first and second inning. Three straight singles loaded the bases and Wharton drew a walk to bring home Cox. In the second, junior Lacey Shifflett scored a run from third base on a single from Cox.

The Eagles added four more runs to create a 6-0 cushion in the top of the fourth. Cox hit a single and a Beloit error allowed Shifflet to score from first base and Cox reached home plate also.

Two more errors from Beloit put Throckmorton and Mikalia Guard on base, and Wharton brought them home on a single. 

The Bucs scored their first two runs of the game in the fourth and fifth inning to cut the deficit to 6-2. Nonetheless, Gontarz belted a two-run double and a double from Wharton batted in Gontarz to put the game virtually out of reach.

The Eagles are back in action tomorrow with another doubleheader, starting with Trine (0-2) at 11:15 a.m. and then Montclair St. (1-1) at 3:45 p.m.