Bridgewater ,Va.- On Mar 17, the Bridgewater softball team hosted Mary Baldwin University at noon where game conditions were sunny throughout the entirety of the game
The first couple innings started off a battle of starting pitchers. There were very quick innings where neither team was able to really get anything going until about the third inning with Mary Baldwin having the only base hit until then. There was a mix of great pitching from the starting pitchers and great defense from both teams throughout the game with both starting pitchers in the game past the sixth inning.
The Eagles started to cash in on opportunities in the top of the third inning with senior Jazmyne Smith and freshman Jordan Wise hitting singles setting up a great scoring situation for freshman Delaney Lail. Lail was able to single up the left field bringing home a score followed by a single from sophomore Mackenzie Cauthorn. The Eagles began a rally of hits in the inning with more batters starting to make contact with pitches. Freshman Aniella Baldwin and sophomore Kaelyn Ramsey both connected with base hits in the next couple at bats, extending the Eagles’ lead 5-0 heading to the bottom of the third inning.
“That third inning we really got on a roll connecting with a lot of balls in the strike zone and really driving the ball out and swinging hard out there,” said Baldwin.
Throughout the first five innings of the ballgame, Mary Baldwin did not threaten to score, even though the team was getting runners on base until the bottom of the sixth where the game started to flip due to a pitching change from the Eagles. Mary Baldwin opened up the bottom of the 6th with back-to-back hits which started a run that resulted in an inning that lasted over 30 minutes.
The Eagles started to lose control of the game due to the pitching substitution that changed the circumstances of the ballgame with the Eagles allowing five runs in this inning alone. For the Eagles to escape the inning, they made a pitching change going to senior Savannah Martin to close out the inning.
“Knowing that we have a leader like Martin in the bullpen whenever we find ourselves in tough situations in games is great for us because she is so dependable when we need her the most,” said Lail.
Knowing the game was tied changed the dynamic with every at bat and mistake for either side being crucial upon winning or losing the game. The bottom of the seventh inning was very productive with the Eagles getting a pair of base runners on the bases to set up an at- bat to win the game, but that unfortunately came up short with an outfielder from Mary Baldwin making a spectacular diving game saving catch from the outfield to head to the top of the eighth.
Mary Baldwin got the tie breaking runner on third base thanks to a sacrifice bunt early in the inning. A couple great defensive plays from the infielders helped keep Mary Baldwin from scoring which led to an opportunity for the Eagles to walk it off in the bottom of the eighth.
The Eagles quickly advanced the tie breaking runner to third base followed by Wise hitting a ball towards the shortstop causing a game winning play at home where sophomore Abby Byrum slid under the tag.
