BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Bridgewater College baseball team ignited its offense to sweep Ferrum 9-1 and 23-9 in an ODAC doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
Final Score: (Game one) Bridgewater 9, Ferrum 1; (Game two) Bridgewater 23, Ferrum 9
Records: Bridgewater 18-9 (6-4 ODAC), Ferrum 9-13 (2-7 ODAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
- Both pitchers were effective through the first two innings, but the Eagles struck first in the bottom of the third inning. Jeffrey Snider hit a deep drive to the left center field game to get into scoring position. Nick Stavros issued a ball to center field giving Snider enough time to tag up from second to be 90 feet from home plate. Brandan Hartman rushed the third baseman into a throwing error to score Snider and make it 1-0.
- Jonathan Sexton led off the bottom of the bottom of the fourth singling through the right side and then was moved to third after a double by Lucas Bauer. With two runners in scoring position, Tristan Gordon delivered a single to center field to add another run on the scoreboard. Kyle Carlson had an RBI grounder to second base to increase the BC lead to 3-0.
- The Panther rallied for their first run in the top of the seventh when back-to-back singles put runners on first and third. Davis Yeaman powered a double to left field to cut the deficit to two. Nick Griffin came in for Joe Christopher and got the final two outs on a strike out and a ground out.
- Bridgewater went back to its scoring ways in the bottom of the seventh. Snider got on base getting an infield hit to the first baseman. Ferrum, knowing of Snider's speed, went to the pick off multiple times but a miscue led to an error and a move up to second base. Stavros brought Snider home with a single through the left side. Hartman dropped in a single to center field for another hit in the inning. Sexton delivered a sacrifice bunt to put both runners in scoring position. The Panthers looking for the double play loaded the bases by intentionally walking Bauer, but it did not work as Gordon lined out to center field for the sacrifice fly. Nick Dawson found open real estate in left field bringing home two runners increasing the lead to 7-1.
- The Eagles added their last two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Stavros continued his impressive day hitting a single to plate Christian Harris from second base. Hartman delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to give Snider the opportunity to tag up from third and make it 9-1
- BC brought on Nick Harris in the top of the eighth who shut the door retiring the Ferrum attack and give Bridgewater the win 9-1.
GAME STATS
- Stavros, Gordon and Dawson all recorded two RBIs in the contest.
- Hartman recorded a 3-for-4 hit day in the contest to lead the way for the Eagles.
- Sexton recorded threw out two batters trying to steal.
- Christopher picked up his third win of the season going 6.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits and striking out four. Griffin and Nick Harris were dominant in relief combining for three strike outs while both did not allow anything.
- The Panthers were held to just six hits on the day with only Shawn Baxter and Gus Chaffin picking up multiple hits.
- Raleigh Walker was handed the loss after going 6.0 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits and striking out seven.
Game Two
- Slade Keyser scored the first run for Ferrum in the top of the first when Clayton Michael grounded into a double play. Reid Long got the last out inducing a fly ball to Christian Harris.
- Bridgewater started a long rally in the bottom of the first adding 13 runs to the score board. Snider led off the attack using his vision to draw a walk, then moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Stavros started off his second game dropping a single through the right side to bring Snider home. Hartman blasted a two-run home run over the left field wall to increase the lead. Dawson brought home two more runs when hit it through the right side of the infield. Christian Harris followed it up with two RBIs of his own hitting a double down the third base line. Bridgewater batted around and Snider hit an RBI double to left field to continue the rally with one out. Stavros did his job plating another run with a single to right field for another run to score. Gordon added two RBIs to his stat line popping a single to left field. Dawson ended the scoring hitting a double to right center to score two more and make it 13-1.
- With the score already lopsided, BC added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning first with Harman capitalizing on a bases loaded situation walking in a run. Sexton followed it up with a sacrifice fly to score Snider from third.
- Russell Golembe began the top of the third hitting a deep ball to left center and sped his way to a triple. Michael singled up the middle for an RBI and cut the lead to 13, 15-2.
- Bridgewater started a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth where a run came across to score. Stavros popped a single to right center then was moved up with Hartman hitting a single to the same spot. Sexton decided to put the ball up the middle to give Stavros the opportunity to score.
- Consecutive singles from the Panthers in the top of the fifth started a run for the Panthers in the top of the fifth inning. Golembe put a single through the 5-6 hole to put a run on the score board. A throwing miscue allowed the second run of the inning to come across, then a single by Michael scored the third and final run of the inning. Sexton helped get to two out throwing down to second to get the runner trying to steal. Long worked in a strike out to end the inning.
- The bottom of the fifth saw BC grab two more runners to come across home plate. Snider reached on a fielder's choice but not before Gordon came home from third to score. Stavros added to his RBI total popping a single to left field to make it 18-5. A walk drawn by Hartman loaded the bases, but Aiden Hedgepeth used effective pitching to get a line out and escape the inning.
- Kristian Barcroft delivered a big at-bat in the top of the sixth belting a home run to right field to add two more runs for the away team.
- Isaac Sumpter drew a walk to initiate the bottom of the sixth, then was brought home when Gordon picked a double to left center to make it 19-7.
- Jared Peak relieved Long in the top of the seventh inning and retired the Ferrum sided with two ground outs and one strike out.
- Stavros continued to deliver hitting a triple to center field in the bottom of the seventh inning. Chandler Valbak was assigned as the new designated hitter and had an RBI ground out that brought home Stavros to score the 20th run. Spencer Sigmon took a hit by pitch, then Sumpter put a single through the left side and Ashton Smith drew a walk to cause trouble for the Panthers. Bailey Peek halted the attack picking up a ground out and throwing it to first for the final out.
- Bridgewater tacked on its final runs in the bottom of the eighth, with Valbak producing a single up the middle to score Luke Tomajczyk. Sigmon dropped in a single to center field allowing for two more runs to come across and give Eagles the 23-7 lead.
- The Panthers did not give up as Bryce Thacker knocked in a double to score two more runs. Tyler Jones left two runners stranded getting a ground out to himself and ended the game at 23-9.
GAME STATS
- Dawson picked up a career-high four RBIs in game two. Nine BC players had two or more RBIs in the contest.
- Stavros recorded a 5-for-6 day at the dish with four runs scored and three RBIs. Hartman was perfect from the plate going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, a two-run home run, two walks and two runs scored. Gordon went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, a double, three runs scored and a walk.
- Long worked his fourth win of the season after going 6.0 innings with four strike outs. Caleb Penner and Peake were effective in relief for Bridgewater each registering an inning allowing one hit between the two of them.
UP NEXT
The Eagles return home on Monday, April 1 for a contest with No. 20 Christopher Newport starting at 2 p.m.
