Softball Bested by Bridgewater in ODAC Opener
Quakers held scoreless in ODAC doubleheader against Eagles’ offensive pressure
BRIDGEWATER, VA – The Guilford College softball team (8-10) faced a surging Bridgewater College (12-4) squad on Saturday afternoon at Bridgewater Softball Field. In their first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) matchup this season, the Quakers dropped both games of the doubleheader, falling 11-0 in the opener and 2-0 in a tightly contested second game against the Eagles. GC now stands at 0-2 in the ODAC while BC stands at 2-0 after this contest.
Game One:
The Quakers were held hitless by Mackenzie Cauthorn (5-2), who tossed a five-inning no-hitter, allowing just two walks and striking out eight. Cauthorn kept GC off balance all game long, recording four 1-2-3 innings and stranding only three Quaker baserunners. Pitching wise for GC, Shiloh Gray (Lexington, N.C.) (3-4) started for the Quakers but was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on five hits in two-thirds of an inning. Abbey Whelan (Gaithersburg, Md.) followed in relief but Bridgewater’s bats stayed hot, scoring six runs, five earned, over 1.2 innings. Micah Wilson (Asheboro, N.C.) closed the game with 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one run and striking out one.
Guilford’s best scoring opportunity came in the first inning, when Chloee Stoner (Salisbury, N.C.) drew a walk and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches, but the Quakers were unable to capitalize. Kaci Johnson (Winterville, N.C.) and Kendall Boggs (Stoneville, N.C.) each worked walks, but Guilford was limited to just two total baserunners beyond that point.
Bridgewater was relentless offensively, piling up 11 hits and stealing five bases. Kaelyn Ramsey was the star for the Eagles, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. McKenna Mueller added two hits, including a double, with two RBIs and two stolen bases. Lily Moyers and Jazmyne Smith each drove in runs as well, helping BC score in each of the first three innings.
Game Two:
Despite a strong outing from Dillon Northen (Kernersville, N.C.) (2-1), GC came up short in game two. She pitched a complete game, allowing just five hits and two unearned runs over six innings while striking out three. Guilford held the Eagles scoreless through three innings but could not capitalize on their scoring chances. She worked efficiently, forcing ten flyouts and keeping Bridgewater off balance, but Guilford’s defense committed four errors, which proved costly in both scoring innings for the Eagles.
Offensively, the Quakers were limited to just three hits by Evelyn Rhoads (3-1), who threw a complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts. Rhodas allowed no walks and worked out of the limited trouble Guilford presented, including stranding a runner in scoring position in the third and fifth innings.
For Guilford, Riley Murrish (Boerne, Texas) paced the offense with a double in the third inning, while Kalissa Williams (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) and Whelan each added a single.
Bridgewater capitalized on Guilford’s defensive mistakes, scoring their first run in the fourth on an RBI single by Smith following a stolen base and a throwing error. In the fifth, Molly Ecroyd singled and stole second before coming around to score on a fielder’s choice from Ramsey, aided by another throwing error.
Quakers are back in familiar territory as they host North Carolina Wesleyan University in yet another non-conference duel on Tuesday March 25th. First pitch is set for 2 PM for game one and 4 PM for game two.
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