Bridgewater Va.- On March 29, the Bridgewater Eagles baseball team lost a close game against Mary Washington with a final score of 8-6.

Mary Washington scored first in the top of the second inning when a base knock and an error placed two runners on base. A runner scored on a rip through the left side, and two more UMW players scored on another base hit to the same place, giving them an early 3-0 lead.

During the bottom of the second inning, junior Hunter Clever managed to hit a single that was immediately followed by junior Jeffery Snider’s double off the wall, putting both runners in scoring positions with no outs. First-year Isaac Sumpter was up next to bat and grounded out, but was able to push Clever in for the score.

First-year Camden Herron followed the sequence up with a sacrifice fly, but was also able to push Snider across home plate, making it a one-run game. 

“They jumped on us early, but we were able to battle back as a team and make it close early in the game,” said Sumpter.

UMW increased their advantage in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs on a double and a sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the inning, Clever doubled for BC, and Snider walked to put two runners on, but neither was pushed over.

The visitors extended their advantage to 6-2 with runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but a spotless sixth inning from sophomore Caleb Penner on the mound put Mary Washington at bay. Bridgewater took advantage of a walk by Snider and a base knock by Sumpter in the bottom half of the inning, putting runners on with no outs.

“It felt good to have that solid inning against a team who had the momentum. We needed that for sure,” said Penner. 

Herron ended his at-bat with a sacrifice bunt, putting both runners in scoring position for sophomore Kyle Carlson, who delivered with a single past the diving second baseman. Both scored, making it a two-run game. 

First-year Spencer Sigmon followed with a single, and senior Jarret Biesecker delivered, slapping a pitch in the opposite direction to score Carlson and pull BC within a run. Later in the inning, sophomore Brandan Hartman was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Clever, but a ground ball ended the inning with UMW still leading.

Mary Washington increased their lead to 8-5 in the top of the seventh inning courtesy of another sacrifice fly and a base knock from the base runner. Sumpter reached safely once more through a walk in the bottom part of the frame, providing BC with a base runner.

The Eagles fought hard to keep the game close, but unfortunately were not able to come away with the victory. The Eagles’ next game will be played on at 4:00 p.m. on April 5 at Eastern Mennonite University.