ASHLAND, Va. – The No. 6 seed, Bridgewater College softball team closed out its season with an 8-7 loss to the No. 7 seeded Randolph College WildCats at the Randolph-Macon Softball Field on Saturday morning.

Score: Randolph 8, Bridgewater 7
Records: Bridgewater 20-22, Randolph 22-20

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The WildCats got on the board early in the first inning after putting runners in scoring position via an early walk and a single to follow setting Delany Nuckols up to slap an RBI single up the middle. Jenna McDermott laid down a bunt in the following at bat that allowed Domonique Irving to score a run for the WildCats. Nuckols scored the final run of the inning for the Wildcats, advancing to home on a throwing error to put Randolph up 3-0.

• The Eagles fired back in the bottom half of the stanza as Sarah Wimer reached base on a walk. Morgan Lucas launched a home run to deep center to cut the lead to just 3-2.

• The WildCats exploded in the top of the second as Paige Scruggs led things off with a walk and was brought home in the following at bat as Kylie Stark drove an RBI triple into left field. Irving knocked a single through the right side to bring Olesia Walch home and was subsequently brought home by Nuckols who slapped a single to center field. McDermott drove the final run of the inning in for the wildcats, sending a ball to left field for an RBI single giving Randolph the 7-2 advantage.

• Lacey Lucado pushed the Wildcats run total to eight in the top of the fourth as she crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice.

• The Eagles fought back in the bottom of the sixth as Torrie Shifflett stepped up with the bases jammed and knocked a two-run single to left field cutting the gap to 8-4. McKenna Mueller followed in the next at bat launching a three-run home run to left center to bring the Eagles to within one.

• The Wildcats went down in order to end the top of the seventh. Jordan wise led off with a single to start the bottom of the seventh before Averi Phillips entered to pinch run for her. Andrea Savage walked to put the potential go-ahead run on the base paths with no outs. The WildCats got the first out with a flyout in foul territory and were able to turn a double play to retire the side.

GAME STATS
• Mueller and Lucas each recorded a homerun in the game for the Eagles.

• Erica Nelson closed he game out for BC as she tossed the final 5.1 frames and gave up just one run down the stretch.

• Shifflett had a big day at the plate recording three hits.

• Andrea Savage and Peyton Gregory both went 2-for-3 at the dish respectively.

• Paige Scruggs picked up the win for the Wildcats going 5.1 innings.

• Brantley Swift pitched 1.1 innings before being relieved by Samantha Martin. Erica Nelson entered the circle last to finish the game for the Eagles recording a strikeout and allowing six hits through5.1 innings of work.

— BC Athletics —