Bridgewater, MA - Bridgewater State University kept the Vermont State University Lyndon bats in check and swept Monday's non-conference softball doubleheader, taking both games by identical 4-0 scores. Bridgewater evened their overall record at 10-10, while Lyndon fell to 4-7 on the season.
Game 1 - Bridgewater State 4, VTSU Lyndon 0
The Bears pushed across a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the early lead. Emily Marcotte reached on an error leading off, then Makayla Ansell followed with a base hit. Janet Jolly laced a double to left center, scoring Marcotte and giving Bridgewater State the lead. Ansell then scored on Victoria Becker's sacrifice fly, making it 2-0, Bears.
Bridgewater manufactured a run in the bottom of the second inning to extend their lead. Katie Tobin started things with a one-out infield single. Then with two out, Marcotte beat out a bunt single. Ansell followed with a base hit, scoring Tobin with the third Bear run.
The Bears pushed across a unearned insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Riley Fitzgerald led off with a base hit and later scored on Olyvia Mendonca's sacrifice fly.
Meanwhile Lyndon couldn't get anything going against Bridgewater starter Mendonca. She limited the Hornets to three singles, two by Ann Watkins (Los Angeles, CA) and one by Seairra Anderson (Somersworth, NH), and one walk, as the Hornets only had one runner advance as far as third base. Mendonca went the distance, striking out three, to earn the win.
Lyndon's Victoria Valentine (East Burke, VT) was the hard luck losing pitcher. She also went the distance in the circle, allowing only one earned run and scattering seven hits while striking out five without walking a batter.
Game 2 - Bridgewater State 4, VTSU Lyndon 0
The nightcap bore a striking resemblance to the opener. Bridgewater again broke in front in the bottom of th first inning. Jolly tripled with two outs, then Sydney Schaefer followed with a base hit, driving in Jolly and giving the Bears the lead.
The Bears extended their advantage with a pair of unearned runs in the home half of the third inning. Jolly again got things started with a one-out double. Schaefer then reached on an error, allowing Jolly to score. Fitzgerald's base hit drove in Schaefer, making the score 3-0, Bears.
The Bears again tacked on an insurance run in their half of the sixth inning. Tobin led off with an infield hit and was lifted for pinch runner Savanah DuBois. DuBois stole second, moved to third on Marcotte's bunt single, and scored on Ansell's infield hit.
Bridgewater State pitching again got the best of the Hornet bats. This time it was McKayla Cusack who went the distance in the circle, picking up the win while striking out six without walking a batter. She only allowed singles to Saleena Porter (St. Johnsbury, VT), Valentine, and Bailey Quire (Gainesville, FL), and only allowed one Hornet runner to reach second base.
The Hornets again saw a solid pitching performance go for naught. Quire also went the distance and took the loss, allowing two earned runs while scattering ten hits and striking out three against one walk.
Lyndon is scheduled to open North Atlantic Conference play with a home doubleheader against Eastern Nazaarene College on Thursday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
