HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. (BC Athletics) – In the final regular season matchup, the No. 10 nationally ranked Bridgewater College baseball team split the doubleheader with Hampden-Sydney on the road Sunday.
Game 1 score: Hampden-Sydney (HSC) 13, Bridgewater (BC) 10
Game 2 score: Bridgewater (BC) 3, Hampden-Sydney (HSC) 1
Records: BC (30-10 OVR, 12-8 ODAC), HSC (18-21 OVR, 10-10 ODAC)
How It Happened
Game 1
• A five-run combined inning between the two teams kicked off a highly competitive matchup in the final regular season series. Both teams traded momentum swings and offensive surges as Hampden-Sydney jumped out with the lead and held control despite BC finding a rhythm and countering with powerful offensive production in late innings.
• Although an early two-run frame in the first by BC, the HSC Tigers quickly snuffed the opening surge with an aggressive offensive response, tacking on three runs and claiming the lead.
• In the second inning, HSC took advantage of the early lead by adding four more runs to their offensive push. BC could not find the answer in three straight innings. The scoring production pressed forward in the fourth as the Tigers executed on fielding miscues and created two more runs on an error to stand with a 9-2 lead. A second error occurred to give the Tigers a third unearned run while commanding an eight-run edge heading into the fifth.
• The BC bats began to heat up in the fifth as Zack Chadwell launched a two-run shot over the right field wall to cut the deficit to six runs. However, HSC stayed right on course to deliver more runs shortly after, nailing an additional three runs with an RBI double and a two-run single.
• An aggressive offensive surge unraveled in the sixth for the Eagles. Bransen Hensley and Bryce Suters smacked back-to-back singles to open the frame. Then, as two outs were mounted following a popout and a strikeout, Ashton Smith changed the course of direction, pounding a three-run home run over the left field wall. The offensive production intensified. Jakson Walter barreled a single and moved Nick Stavros over to second after getting on with a walk. Chadwell stepped up to the plate with a fiery bat and cranked another home run to drop the deficit to three runs.
• Both teams shut down offensive attacks while HSC got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to maintain the lead. The final attempt to power a scoring rally took form in the ninth. However, HSC’s Jacob Williams closed out the frame successfully and retired three straight batters to take the first game of the doubleheader, 13-10.
Game 2
• Both teams fought for the opening breakthrough as strong pitching took hold in the second game of the doubleheader. The Eagles found the edge first and gradually added more separation from their ODAC foe.
• The Eagles struck first in the second inning as Ashton Smith continued his hot bat in the second matchup of the day with an RBI double, bringing home Jake Harris. HSC had no answer as Evan Bert shut down the offense effectively through five innings.
• BC pressed on the gas in the fifth inning with a pair of RBI singles from Chandler Valbak and Isaac Sumpter. The Eagles stayed diligent defensively and offensively, not giving any room for the Tigers to find an opening.
• The pitching continued to stay in control as Bert extended through eight full innings. Andrew Baugher came in for relief to close the impressive defensive outing with no runs scored. The Tigers made a jump for a late nine-inning scoring rally as they opened with a double down the right field line which was then followed by a walk. A ground out moved the runner to third and a sacrifice fly got the Tigers their first run of the game. Baugher was left with a runner on third and the tying run at bat. The next batter walked. However, Baugher got the third out to seal the 3-1 victory and the save.
Game Notes
Game 1
• Bridgewater had the edge in the hits category with 12 while Hampden-Sydney collected 11, respectively.
• The two errors by the Eagles caused three unearned runs, the deficit they had to overcome at the end.
• Zack Chadwell led the way offensively with 5 RBIs along with a pair of home runs which totals 13 on the season.
• Nick Stavros kept a steady approach at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs.
• Ashton Smith collected his 12th home run of the season.
• The Eagles are now 22-1 when scoring 10 or more runs in a game.
Game 2
• Evan Bert pitched eight shutout innings, including six strikeouts on just four hits. That marks his seventh win of the season.
• Bridgewater doubled Hampden-Sydney in game two in the hits category with 12 hits.
• Bryce Suters continued a steady bat going 2-for-4 at the plate. He finished the regular season with the best batting average for the Eagles posting .405.
Up Next
The Eagles will await the pairings and seedings in the opening round of the ODAC Tournament, which is set to begin on Friday, May 1 in a best-of-3 series at the higher seed’s venue.
— BC Athletics —
