HARRISONBURG, Va. (BC Athletics) – Bridgewater College baseball captured wins against Hood and SVU at JMU’s Eagle Field as the Eagles rode to a 13-4 win over Hood and an 11-4 win over SVU Wednesday.
The Bridgewater College Eagles (BC) have moved to 5-0 on the season as Hood has dropped to 0-3 and SVU has also dropped to 0-3.
How It Happened
Game 1 vs Hood
• Although an early breakthrough for the Hood Blazers, the Eagles quickly adjusted and powered a heavy offense for the rest of the game. In the first inning after the RBI single for Hood, the Eagles answered back. With a groundout by Zack Chadwell, Nick Stavros came around to score. Then, Trent Holland contributed to smart offense pushing another run to score with a sacrifice fly. Ashton Smith rang out the opening frame with a no-doubter over the left field wall and knocked in Jakson Walter to bring the lead to 4-1.
• More short offense worked in BC’s favor with another run scoring off a sacrifice fly by Bransen Hensley in the second inning. In the third inning, BC tacked on four more runs beginning with Chandler Valbak. Valbak looped a shot into right field for a single and snagged second off a fielding error; Bryce Suters scored on the play. Stavros cleared the bases with a double to center field bringing home Valbak and TJ Johnson. Chadwell then added a third run off an RBI single, and Holland closed out the strong offense with a double to score Chadwell.
• At 10-1, the game was comfortably in BC’s control. Hood fought more to earn three more runs with a stolen base to home, an RBI double, and a fielder’s choice. BC stayed strong and closed out on the mound with solid defensive innings. The relief pitching came in for Jaden Isidro after four innings, and held strong.
• BC pushed the lead to 12-4 after the sixth inning with an RBI double by Valbak and an RBI single by Stavros. Smith sent out the final run with his second home run of the day and a 13-4 victory.
Game 2 vs SVU
• This time around, the Eagles came out firing from the very beginning with first runs on the board. Zack Chadwell started the action off with a bang, smacking a three-run shot over the right field wall. Jake Harris added to the powerful start with an RBI single to open with a 4-0 edge.
• Jakson Walter put a ball in play to get action going around the bases in the second inning as Chadwell scored. Ashton Smith continued with his hot streak for an RBI single, bringing home Trent Holland. Jake Harris pushed the lead to 7-0 with a drilled ground rule double to send home Smith.
• SVU put together a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth to stay competitive. However, the short burst of runs was put to rest as Smith smacked yet another home run knocking in Jakson Walter. Bransen Hensley squared one to center field to bring home Chandler Valbak, helping the Eagles stay in firm control of the lead at 10-2.
• SVU mustered two more runs in the eighth, but BC safely pulled away as Valbak knocked in the final run with a double and the Eagles took the win at 11-4.
Game Notes
Game 1 vs Hood
• Ashton Smith hit two home runs in the game for the first time in his career.
• The Eagles totaled 16 hits compared to Hood’s eight, respectively.
• Smith and Nick Stavros each tallied three RBIs.
Game 2 vs SVU
• Ashton Smith and Zack Chadwell combined for four hits, six RBIs, and six runs scored.
• Bridgewater saw the ball well at the plate, only going down on strikes in three at-bats.
• Spencer Lloyd helped maintain the lead in the matchup with a win and three strikeouts.
— BC Athletics —
