BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Bridgewater College improved to 6-1 on the season by sweeping Saturday's doubleheader from Penn State Harrisburg.
Chad Lenz and Ian Mayes combined on a three-hit shutout to pitch the Eagles to a 7-0 victory in the opener. In the second game, Brady Cockerham provided a strong start on the mound, allowing no earned runs in six innings, and Kenner Berry drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double as the Eagles completed the sweep with a 7-4 victory.
The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two runs in the bottom of the first in Game 1. Dylan Horne led off with a walk and Brandon Poole bunted for a hit with Horne racing all the way to third on the play. Horne scored on a wild pitch and Poole came around to score on a single by Berry for a quick 2-0 lead.
Bridgewater added two more runs in the second. Justin Petock led off with a single and Hunter Hensley was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. With one out, Horne hit into a fielder's choice, leaving the Eagles with runners on the corners. Horne stole second and Poole followed with a two-run double to left, making the score 4-0.
With one out, Garrison Wright got the inning started with a hard single through the left side. After Horne flied out, Wright swiped second to move into scoring position. Poole was then hit by a pitch and Ryan Leake followed with a two-run double down the right-field line for a 6-0 BC lead. Leake scooted home when Berry lined a single to right center, making the score 7-0.
Lenz was dominant in his seven-inning stint, allowing just a pair of bloop singles. The sophomore lefty struck out six batters and walked three. Mayes allowed one hit in his two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and one walk.
Poole, Leake, Berry and Petock each contributed two hits to the Eagles offensive output. Poole, Leake and Berry each finished with two RBIs.
The Lions loaded the bases in the first inning of Game 2 on three singles, but Cockerham fanned R.J. Boop to end the threat.
Penn State Harrisburg nicked the Eagles southpaw for an unearned run in the third. Will Quiles led off the inning with a single and moved to second on an errant throw from the outfield. Quiles scored on a base hit by Blake Reiff for a 1-0 Lions lead.
The visitors held the lead until the Eagles scored four times in the bottom of the fifth inning. Austin Batten led off the frame with a base hit and Horne followed with a bunt single. Poole advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Leake walked to load the sacks and Berry followed with a three-run double over the centerfielder's head, giving the Eagles a 3-1 lead. Berry took third on a wild pitch and Brendan Howell walked to put runners on the corners. Howell was caught stealing, but Berry scored from third while Howell was caught in a rundown as the Eagles lead grew to 4-1.
Bridgewater added three more runs in the sixth to lead 7-1. With one out, Horne walked and moved to second on a balk. Horne moved to third as Poole was retired on a bunt. Horne scored when Leake was safe on an infield, giving the Eagles a 5-1 lead. After Berry walked, Howell pulled a pitch for a two-run double down the right-field line, giving BC a 7-1 advantage.
The Lions got a run in the eighth when Ethan Kell led off the frame with homer. Kevin Kremer added a two-run homer to right in the ninth for the final 7-4 score.
Cockerham allowed one unearned run on five hits in his six innings of work on the mound. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.