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Box Score 2 Salem, VA -- Bridgewater had to do it the hard way. The Eagles had to win twice Saturday to claim their league-record 11th Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Tournament crown and the league's automatic bid into the NCAA playoffs. Thanks to solid pitching and clutch hitting the Eagles made it happen.
Tournament MVP Scott Hearn went 2-for-3 with two doubles and freshman Erik Geisert added five innings of two-run relief to lead the Eagles to an 8-5 victory over the Quakers in the second game of the afternoon.
Bridgewater struck early posting two runs in the bottom of the first but relinquished the lead in the top of the third when Guilford registered two runs and took a 3-2 advantage. The Eagles scored three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. After adding an additional tally in the sixth to make the score 6-3, Guilford answered with two runs in the top of the eighth and cut the Eagles' lead to one. Bridgewater posted two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the win.
Bridgewater used four pitchers on the afternoon, led by Geisert, who earned the win after entering the game in the top half of the third inning. Starting third baseman Todd Lewis earned his first save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning.
Guilford's Steve Danis finished the game 1-for-2 with two RBI and set the Quakers' school record for career hits with 193. Quaker starter Michael Idol pitched four and a third and received the loss, dropping his season record to 1-3.
Guilford finished the tournament with a 30-12 overall record and awaits a possible NCAA at-large bid. The Quakers close the regular season Tuesday, April 30 in Martinsville, VA, against Ferrum College.
Bridgewater completed the regular season with a 26-16-1 record and will represent the ODAC in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Bids for the national tournament will be announced on Sunday, May 12. The Eagles will be making their second consecutive NCAA appearance after earning the ODAC's automatic bid in 2001.
Game 6
In Saturday's first game, Bridgewater received a complete-game performance from pitcher Dustin Jones, who posted his second win of the season and struck out 10 Guilford batters. Jones' performance raised his record to 2-4 and marked his first complete game of the season.
Bridgewater managed only three hits in the game, but capitalized on an error and four first-inning walks to open a 5-3 lead.
Guilford answered in the bottom of the first on Zach Whicker's two-out RBI double. The Quakers scored again in the fifth on a Whicker sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice that scored shortstop Zach Morgan, but Bridgewater's five runs in the first would be enough to claim the victory.
Guilford's Brad Franklin set the school record with his 49th RBI of the year, while Whicker tied a school record with his 16th double of the season.
GC's Ciahnan Miller took the loss after giving up five runs in the top of the first and dropped his season record to 6-1. Mike Goettler provided the Quakers a welcome relief performance finishing the game striking out five BC batters and shutting down the Eagles' offensive attack.
All-Tournament Team
1B – Luke Kempton, Guilford
2B – Brad Franklin, Guilford
SS – Ryan McQueen, Bridgewater
3B – Todd Lewis, Bridgewater
C – Erik Kratz, Eastern Mennonite
OF – A.J. McCauley, Guilford
OF – Casey Severs, Eastern Mennonite
OF – Scott Hearn, Bridgewater
DH – Drew Robertson, Eastern Mennonite
P – Allen Norris, Bridgewater
MVP – Scott Hearn, Bridgewater
