Bridgewater, Va – In a game that featured a lot of offense, the Bridgewater Eagles could not keep pace with the Christopher Newport University Captains on Tuesday, March 10.

The Eagles came into this matchup 10-3 facing the 9-4 Captains. The game started in favor of the Captains when they got out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. 

Sophomore pitcher Robbie Stross started on the mound for the Eagles, but was relieved by sophomore pitcher Bryce Masters after Stross gave up four runs in the first inning and a half. 

The Eagles answered in the second inning and looked poised to make a comeback as they scored three runs to cut the deficit to 4-3. Bridgewater was able to hold CNU scoreless in the third inning, but could not put any runs on the board either. The score stayed 4-3 heading into the fourth. 

CNU opened the game back up in the fourth inning as they put together three runs to extend their lead. Bridgewater answered with a two-run home run by sophomore Brett Tharp, making the score 7-5. 

CNU continued to make it difficult for Bridgewater to climb back into the game as they added four more runs in the fifth inning, along with two more in the sixth inning. Bridgewater was able to cut a chunk out of their deficit in the sixth inning, when they scored five runs on four hits, making the score 13-10.

Only one run scored for CNU in the seventh and eighth innings combined. Bridgewater made it a two-run game heading into the ninth inning, with the score 14-12. The Captains effectively put the game away with six runs in the ninth inning. 

The Captains defeated the Eagles 20-12. CNU out-hit Bridgewater 23-21 and did not commit any errors, while Bridgewater had two. The Eagles went through six pitchers as they had trouble slowing down the Captains offense. 

Despite the loss, Bridgewater’s sophomore lead off batter Jarrett Biesecker showed a strong performance for the Eagles. Biesecker went 4-5, with a hit by pitch and two RBI’s. 

“You have to set a tone. Me being the lead off hitter I knew I had to get on base somehow to help my team,” said Biesecker after being down 2-0 in the first inning. He found his way to first base by hitting a line drive up the middle during his first at-bat of the game. 

“We have to work on our pitching. We have to give up less walks, throw strikes, and eliminate the big innings,” said Biesecker. There were three innings in the game where CNU scored three or more runs, including their six run inning in the ninth.