BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Bridgewater College Softball defeated cross-town rival Eastern Mennonite University in both games of a doubleheader on April 7.
“Even if we’re down, and it’s the end of the game, we can always fight back,” Head Coach Megan Pleskovic said. “Every single person on this team is a spark for us, and they’ll step up any given day.”
The Eagles, now 21–7 overall and 8–2 in conference play, held the Royals scoreless in a 4–0 victory in the opener. Bridgewater followed with a dominant sixth inning in game two, scoring six runs to secure an 8–3 win and complete the sweep.
In the opener, the Eagles rallied behind pitcher Mackenzie Cauthron, who allowed six hits but no runs. Shortstop McKenna Mueller put Bridgewater on the board with a three-run home run in the third inning. In the fourth, right fielder Aniella Baldwin added an RBI double to cap the scoring in the 4–0 win.
In game two, the Eagles took an early lead when Olivia Eastlake reached on an error, allowing McKenna Mueller to score in the first inning. The Royals answered in the third with a run on a sacrifice bunt.
Second baseman Caroline Malandra doubled down the right-field line to drive in a run, giving the Eagles a 2–1 lead in the fifth. Eastern Mennonite’s Meaghan Dean responded with a two-run home run in the sixth to put the Royals ahead 3–2.
Bridgewater answered with six unanswered runs to take control and secure the 8–3 win. Sophomore pitcher Evelyn Rhoads earned the win, allowing seven hits and three runs. She said her mindset was to “take it pitch by pitch,” trust her defense and throw the best pitches she could to secure a win.
“Take good pitches and swing at not so good pitches,” Coach Pleskovic said was the biggest adjustment she told her team. “We were kind of guessing a little bit, but towards the end, we got more comfortable at the plate.”
Rhoads said the team will be taking the results from this into their next matchup, where their focus will be on playing their own brand of ball, which they know they are capable of playing.
The Eagles look forward to hosting their next opponent, Randolph College, for Bridgewater’s senior day on Saturday, April 11.
