For immediate release – 4/27/2012 - #377
LC Softball Rally Falls Just Short – Bridgewater Wins 5-3

SALEM, VA- A spirited Lynchburg College comeback fell just short Friday afternoon as the Bridgewater College softball team hung on for a 5-3 win in the opening round of the 2012 Old Dominion Conference (ODAC) Tournament hosted at the Moyer Sports Complex.

The Eagles, seeded fifth in the eight-team, double-elimination tournament, got on the board in the top of the second on a two-run home run from Leigh Lam. Bridgewater scored again in the top of the fourth to take a 3-0 lead and took advantage of two Hornet errors in the sixth to take a 5-0 edge.

Bridgewater starter Aven Thomas had a one-hitter going until the seventh. Lynchburg came alive in the inning, starting the scoring with an RBI single from senior Sarah Smith with one out. Freshman Brooke Sigrist followed with a single and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Freshman Jessi Hall loaded the bases with a walk and BC brought Heather Jenkins in to pitch. An Eagle error allowed one run to score to make it a 5-2 game, and another run scored on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Jenkins earned the save by forcing a pop-up.

Hornet starter Hope Johnson allowed just three hits on the afternoon and three earned runs. She walked three batters and struck out four. Thomas also allowed just three hits and picked up the win, giving up no earned runs.

The Hornets will face eight-seeded Emory & Henry College at 4 p.m. The Wasps gave top seed Virginia Wesleyan College a tough game earlier in the day, falling 1-0.

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