BRIDGEWATER, Va. — The Bridgewater College softball team fell to top-ranked Virginia Wesleyan in a conference doubleheader March 29, dropping both games despite competitive stretches against the nation’s No. 1 team.
“We always say, be a thorn in their side,” Coach Megan Pleskovic said. “We’ve got nothing to lose coming out here, but we know we can compete with the best.”
The Eagles (18-6, 6-2 ODAC) kept pace early in Game 1 before Virginia Wesleyan pulled away late for a 4-2 victory. The Marlins followed with a strong offensive showing in Game 2 to secure a 10-4 win and complete the sweep.
In the opener, Bridgewater held the Marlins scoreless through five innings behind solid pitching and defensive play. The Eagles broke up a no-hit bid in the fourth inning when Aniella Baldwin recorded a base hit, sparking a brief offensive opportunity.
Virginia Wesleyan broke through in the sixth inning with a three-run home run, shifting momentum in favor of the visitors. Bridgewater responded in the bottom half of the inning, as McKenna Mueller drove in two runs with a double to cut the deficit in half. However, the Eagles were unable to complete the comeback, falling 4-2.
Game 2 saw Virginia Wesleyan take control early, capitalizing on multiple extra-base hits in the third inning to build a sizable lead. The Marlins scored seven runs in the frame, putting Bridgewater in an early deficit.
Pitcher Kylie Jones was put into the game to close out the inning. Jones was able to finish out the inning allowing just one run to finish out the 3rd.
“It’s really just about controlling your own pace,” said Jones. “I come in, and I’m in the circle, so it’s my pace just keeping my breaths and trusting my defense. We’re facing a pretty good team, so it’s about limiting the barrels they catch and trusting the defense behind me.”
Despite trailing, the Eagles continued to compete at the plate. Bridgewater answered with runs in the third and fourth innings and added two more in the seventh after capitalizing on a defensive miscue. Still, the early deficit proved too much to overcome as the Marlins secured a 10-4 win.
The score might look a little lopsided, but we have to focus on the positives and keep climbing. Control what we can control and keep pushing forward,” Plescovik said.
The Eagles’ next game will be a conference matchup at home against Eastern Mennonite University.