GAME 1
Pfeiffer def. Bridgewater, 8-5
MISENHEIMER, N.C. (Feb. 17, 2024) --The Pfeiffer Falcons softball team swept visiting Bridgewater College in the season-opening doubleheader on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Jack Ingram Field
In game one, the Falcons broke through after a 5-5 tie in the fifth inning to beat the Bridgewater (VA) Eagles 8-5 Saturday.
Junior Emma Bullin (1-0) picked up the win for Pfeiffer (1-0) in the circle, tossing. two shutout innings without giving up a hit, allowing no walks while striking out one.
Junior Gracie Griffin led the way offensively for the Falcons, going 2-for-3 in the game with a two-run home run, a drew one walk. Junior Emma Chopko provided a standout day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI while fellow junior Jaci Cook also chipped in, going 1-for-3 for Pfeiffer with a double, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons were trailing 1-0 in the second inning when they first put runs on the board. Pfeiffer's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a two-run home run off the bat of Griffin and a two-run double from Chopko.
The Eagles failed to push any runs across before the Falcons offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Bullin came across to score the lone run of the inning for Pfeiffer, which brought the score to 5-1 in favor of the Falcons.
Bridgewater (VA) fought back to even the ballgame at five before Pfeiffer reclaimed an 8-5 advantage in the sixth inning. The Falcons scored three times, including once on Cook's RBI double. The score remained 8-5 for the rest of the game, as Pfeiffer held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Senior Kali Morton struck out six Eagles hitters.
» Pfeiffer's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Falcons had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Eagles 4-1 in the bottom of the second.
» Four Falcons had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Falcons out-hit the Eagles at an 11-8 clip.
» Pfeiffer went 7-for-13 (.538) with runners in scoring position.
» Pfeiffer pitchers faced 31 Bridgewater (VA) hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and 10 fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Falcons drew six walks from Bridgewater (VA) pitching.
» Griffin led the Falcons at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
» Bridgewater (VA) was led offensively by freshman Delaney Lail, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.
» Junior Erica Nelson led the Eagles pitching staff, throwing one inning of one-run ball.
GAME 2
Pfeiffer def. Bridgewater, 7-2
In game two, the Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never trailed on the way to the 7-2 win.
Junior Kenzi Lyall (1-0) got the win for Pfeiffer (2-0). The right-hander threw a complete game, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits, allowing three walks while striking out five.
Junior Alyssa Broaddus led the way at the plate in game two for the Falcons, going 2-for-3 in the with two RBI. Chopko would put together another noteworthy effort as well, going 3-for-3 with a walk. Bullin also contributed, going 1-for-1 for Pfeiffer drawing two walks and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Broaddus drove in two runs for Pfeiffer with a single, that scored Chopko and junior Gracie Griffin.
The Falcons then held the Eagles scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Pfeiffer scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Bullin, which brought the Falcons lead to 3-0.
Pfeiffer held Bridgewater (VA) without a run before building their lead to 7-0 in the fifth inning. The Falcons bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of freshman Emily Dickerson. Bridgewater  put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Pfeiffer still coasted to the 7-2 win.
GAME NOTES
» Chopko compiled three base hits in the game for Pfeiffer.
» Lyall struck out five Eagles hitters.
» Pfeiffer's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Pfeiffer took a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Falcons out-hit the Eagles at an 11-5 clip.
» Pfeiffer went 6-for-12 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» The Falcons got two hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Pfeiffer pitchers faced 29 Bridgewater (VA) hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out five.
» The Falcons drew seven walks from Bridgewater (VA) pitching.
» Broaddus led the Falcons at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI.
» Bridgewater (VA) was led offensively by freshman Lexi Schaaf, who went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
» Sophomore Mackenzie Cauthorn led the Eagles pitching staff, throwing 1.1 shutout innings.
Up Next
The Falcons will hit the road for a Sunday afternoon date with former USA South and current ODAC foe Averett University. First pitch is scheduled for noon in Danville, Va.
