BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Bridgewater rallied with three runs in the seventh to tie the score and then pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth to defeat Wesley College 4-3 Friday afternoon in a non-conference contest.
Both starters matched zeroes for the first three innings before the Wolverines nicked Brady Cockerham for two runs in the fourth. With two outs and nobody on KeAndre Jones and Mike Calvarese kept the inning alive with consecutive singles. Both scored on a double to right by Joe Hummel for a 2-0 Wesley lead.
Wesley (10-13) added another run in the top of the seventh. Calvarese led off with a double and moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt. Connor Bowers plated Calvarese with a single to right, making the score 3-0.
Wolverines' starter Taylor Reynolds took a four-hit shutout into the bottom of the seventh, but the Eagles bats finally came alive. With one out, Chris King walked and moved to third on Cavin Clyde's double. After Derrik Walling fouled out to the catcher, Austin Batten lined a two-run single to center, making it a one-run game, 3-2. Batten stole second and scored on a single by Darren Yoder, tying the game at three runs apiece.
Cockerham retired the side in order in the eighth, setting the stage for the Eagles to take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Justin Petock walked to lead off the inning and pinch-runner Dylan Horne moved to second on a sac bunt by Brandon Poole. Pinch-hitter Brendan Howell then lined a double to left-center, scoring Horne to give the Eagles a 4-3 lead.
Cockerham went back out for the ninth but was unable to close the door on the Wolverines. The Eagles lefty retired Matt Domian on infield popup, but Jones reached on a single and raced to third on a single by Calvarese, giving the visitors runners at the corners with one out. Eagles head coach Curt Kendall went to the bullpen for freshman Matt Jones and the side-armer earned the save with one pitch. Hummel hit Jones' first pitch to shallow right where Kenner Berry made the catch for the second out. Jones tagged at third and tried to score, but Berry threw a strike to King and the Eagles' catcher applied the tag on the Wesley runner for the final out of the game.
Cockerham earned the win with 8.1 solid innings on the mound. The lefty allowed three earned runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out two batters.
Bridgewater (18-9-1) finished with eight hits. Batten and Clyde led the offense with two hits each.
Wesley starter Reynolds pitched seven innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits. Reliever Nate Weir took the loss, allowing one run on one hit in the eighth.
Calvarese led the Wolverines at the plate as he collected three of the team's nine hits.