BRIDGEWATER, Va. - The No. 9 Bridgewater College baseball team came up short in both games in the doubleheader against No. 2 ranked Lynchburg at home Saturday. 

The Basics 

Game 1 score: Lynchburg (LYN) 5, Bridgewater (BC) 2 

Game 2 score: Lynchburg (LYN) 7, Bridgewater (BC) 6 

Records: BC (28-8, 10-7), LYN (29-3-1, 16-0-1) 

How It Happened 

Game 1 

• The Eagles hung close with the No 2 ranked team in the nation. The game was determined by efficient at-bats, and LYN had the edge defensively led by a strong arm in Tyler Kaltreider. The Hornets struck first on offense and never lost the lead. 

• In the first inning, LYN opened the scoring with a two-run shot. The Eagles struggled to respond as the game went on. LYN closed effectively on defense, and the Eagles could not get a run across against stifling pitching.  

• BC engaged in an offensive surge in the sixth inning as Zack Chadwell laced a double to left field to knock in Jakson Walter, cutting the deficit to a one-run game. However, LYN produced an additional three runs to keep control. The Hornets hit a second home run and a sacrifice fly came in to score to stand at 5-1. 

• LYN cleaned up defensively, leaving no mistakes out on the field. BC mustered a run in the eighth by a Bransen Hensley RBI single, but the Hornets held still for the 5-2 final score.  

Game 2 

• The second game unraveled with intense back-and-forth momentum swings. LYN opened first, but BC responded with a massive scoring barrage in late innings ignited by Ashton Smith. Intensity rose, and offensive production was exchanged throughout the game between the two nationally ranked squads. LYN initiated the first offensive push. 

• In the second inning, the Hornets collected a two-run double to hold a 2-0 lead. Next inning, LYN stayed on the gas, knocking out the first of three total home runs combined between the two teams. After the two-run home run, the Hornets stood with a 4-0 advantage. 

• BC began its offensive surge in the third inning as Ashton Smith mashed a solo home run over the left field wall. The production continued in the fourth inning as runners filled the bases. Chandler Valbak came around to score on aggressive base running from a wild pitch. LYN held the offense there with a 4-2 edge against the crimson and gold.  

• The momentum soon switched and turned over to the Eagles in the sixth inning. Valbak started the offense off with a single through the infield. Bransen Hensley then lasered a single up the middle to advance Valbak to second. Issac Sumpter was up as a pinch hitter and worked a walk to force bases loaded. Ashton Smith rose to the occasion, found his pitch, and launched a grand slam over the left field wall to take a 6-4 lead over the Hornets.  

• The Hornets settled in the seventh frame to chip away at the deficit resulting in an RBI single. LYN pressed further in the next inning and got back in rhythm. The Hornets took back the lead with a pair of RBI singles to hold a 7-6 edge. 

• BC was stopped short in the eighth and ninth inning as the Eagles went down in order as six straight batters were retired to fall short in the second game of the doubleheader. 

Game Notes 

Game 1 

• The Eagles tied with the Hornets in total hits with 11 each. 

• Jakson Walter and Zack Chadwell both posted two hits apiece 

• Cam Nuckols dropped his first game of the season to go 6-1 on the mound. His final stat line was five runs, three walks, and four strikeouts on seven innings pitched. 

Game 2 

• Ashton Smith finished with five RBIs, three hits, and two runs. This marks his second game with two home runs in a single game this season and now leads the Eagles with 11 home runs. 

• Bridgewater clipped Lynchburg in total hits as BC collected nine and the Hornets had eight, respectively. 

• The errors were the difference maker as the Hornets converted the tying run off a throwing error from a failed pickoff. BC had three errors in the game compared to two for LYN. 

• Evan Bert pitched six innings and led the game with five strikeouts.  

Up Next 

The Eagles are back in action on Tuesday, April 21 at home against Washington & Lee. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.