LYNCHBURG, Va. - Bridgewater College softball junior Kathryn Thomas posted seven total hits and her first career home run during the Eagles doubleheader split on Sunday at Lynchburg.

Game One

The Basics

• Final Score: Bridgewater 13, Lynchburg 4
• Records: Bridgewater (13-10, 3-0 ODAC), Lynchburg (11-12, 2-1 ODAC)

How It Happened

• Torie Shifflett led off the contest with a single to left field to kick start what would be an offensive clinic for the Eagles in game one. Bridgewater would go on to score four in the first frame highlighted by Sarah Wimer's two RBI double down the left field line. Lynchburg answered in the bottom half of the frame with a two RBI double down the left field line of their own to come within two at 4-2. Wimer answered in the top of the second with a home run to left field, her eighth of the season
• Shifflett brought in two more runs on two doubles in the third and fifth frames to increase the BC lead to six at 8-2. The Hornets added one more run to their tally on an RBI single to left center in the bottom of the fifth before Thomas notched her third hit of the day on a single to the right to cross Jazmyne Smith for a 9-3 advantage. Thomas would cross home herself on a Lynchburg error to make it 10-3
• The Hornets added another run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single to center field. Not to be outdone, Bridgewater tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh thanks to RBIs from Smith, Thomas and Annaliese Franklin to seal the 13-4 victory for the Eagles

Match Notes

• Thomas led all batters with four hits and two RBI to go with two stolen bases. Shifflett, Smith and Wimer all contributed three hits with Shifflett and Wimer adding three RBI each
• Samantha Martin earned her seventh win of the season, allowing 11 hits and four earned runs

Game Two

The Basics

• Final Score (8 Innings): Bridgewater 3, Lynchburg 4
• Records: Bridgewater (13-11, 3-1 ODAC), Lynchburg (12-12, 3-1 ODAC)

How It Happened

• Thomas, continuing her success from game one, made two critical catches in right field to start the game including a diving play to end the inning and leave the Hornets hitless. Not deterred, Lynchburg posted two runs in the bottom of the second frame to take an early lead
• After the Hornets walked Wimer to start the fourth, Thomas launched her first career home run to left field to tie the game at 2-2. Lynchburg matched Thomas with a homer of their own in the bottom half of the frame to retake the lead at 3-2. Bridgewater rebounded after the homer with three consecutive outs 
• Avery Pinder reached first on a Lynchburg error and stole second to start the top of the fifth. Shifflett then recorded her 99th career hit on an RBI single to center field to score Pinder and tie the game at 3-3
• Neither team was able to produce any more runs after seven innings to push an eighth frame. Wimer started the international tie breaker on second base and advanced to third on a Thomas sacrifice bunt. Kaitlyn Tirona hit a deep ball to center field for the sacrifice attempt but was not enough to give Wimer a safe path home. Lynchburg followed the Eagles lead in the bottom half of the frame by advancing the runner on second to third on a sacrifice bunt. An RBI single to center field secured the extra innings win for the home team

Match Notes

• Thomas posted three hits and two RBI, both game highs. Shifflett, Brooklynn Fridley and Franklin also contributed hits
• Pinder, Thomas and Fridley all stole bases for BC with Pinder recording her tenth of the season. That mark is fourth best in the conference
• Erica Nelson pitched her first career complete game, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. She struck out one batter

Up Next

• Bridgewater will host No. 1 Christopher Newport on Thursday, March 31 at Fulk Field. Doubleheader action is set to begin at 3:00 p.m.