BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- After an explosive offensive showing on Saturday in a sweep at Eastern Mennonite University, the 13th ranked Virginia Wesleyan College Marlins turned to defense and outstanding pitching to post a Sunday sweep at Bridgewater College.

The Marlins won 1-0 in a hard-fought opener over the Eagles and followed it with an 8-0, five-inning decision in the second game to clinch the sweep in the second Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) doubleheader of the weekend.  Virginia Wesleyan improved to 14-2 in the league and to 29-5 overall, while Bridgewater dropped to 18-13-1 overall and to 8-9-1 in the ODAC.

Sunday's sweep capped a 6-0 week for the Marlins, who posted four shutouts in the six games, including the last three in a row.  Bridgewater entered the games averaging 5.4 runs per contest, but could not produce the hits to score against VWC.

The Eagles managed three hits in the opener, including two against the Marlins' starting pitcher senior MacKenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange).  She struck out four batters in four innings en route improving to 11-0 on the season. Junior Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods) took over for the final three innings and struck out four batters as she picked up her first save of the season.

Virginia Wesleyan scored what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the first winning when senior Season Dailey (Norfolk/Virginia Beach Princess Anne) reached base on a throwing error that allowed sophomore Kayla Malkos (Roanoke/Cave Spring) to score.  Malkos drew a walk earlier, stole second base, and moved to third on a wild pitch.

Both teams produced strong pitching and alert defensive efforts in the remaining innings to deny any scoring.  Bridgewater was limited to just a single in the third and fifth innings, but fell 1-2-3 in four innings.  VWC produced scoring threats in the sixth and seventh innings, putting two runners on each time, but the Eagles came up with the defense to keep them stranded.

Brianna Cox (Bumpass/Louisa) threw a complete game for Bridgewater, allowing three hits and three walks as she fell to 11-5 on the season.

Seniors Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker) and Meghan Zahnd (Chesapeake/Grassfield), and sophomore Kayla Dost (Bristow/Nokesville Brentsville) all singled for VWC.  Kasey Anderson (Chatham, Va./Chatham) led BC with two singles.

Matters were a little less intense in the second game as Virginia Wesleyan belted out five hits in the second contest en route to scoring four runs. Malkos, Dost, and sophomore Taylor Galvin (Virginia Beach/Kempsville) all hit RBI-singles and seniorLindsay Inzana (Chesapeake/Grassfield) put down an RBI sacrifice bunt.

After allowing just a single to the Eagles in the bottom of the inning, the Marlins went back to work in the top of the second, leading off with a Zahnd single.  She scored on a Higginbotham double and Higginbotham scored later when Malkos singled up the middle to increase the VWC lead to 6-0.

Bridgewater had one runner on base in all five innings, but could not move them.

Karagiorgis improved to 16-4 in the pitching circle, working three innings, striking out five batters and allowing three hits. Sophomore Mary Shipp (Virginia Beach/First Colonial) pitched in the fourth inning and Inzana took over in the fifth and allowed just one hit. Karagiorgis finished 3-0 during the weekend and recorded a save. She struck out 13 batters overall, gave up 11 hits, and allowed just two earned runs.

VWC outhit Bridgewater 10-4, led by Higginbotham with a 2-for-2 showing.  She knocked out a double and single to cap an outstanding weekend at the plate. She hit 9-for-13, driving in nine runs and scoring seven. She was 12-for-20 in the 6-0 week, driving in 10 RBI and scoring 11 runs. Zahnd finished with two singles.   Anderson led BC with two singles.

Virginia Wesleyan closes the home portion of the regular-season schedule on Friday, April 18, hosting the Maroons of Roanoke College in an ODAC doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m.

--AMDG--