bridgewater earns automatic bid into ncaa tournament

LYNCHBURG, Va. --- One day after his worst outing of the season, Casey Hartman got another chance on the big stage Sunday afternoon.

Hartman, who did not make it out of the second inning in BC's 19-9 win over Randolph-Macon on Saturday, gave the Eagles seven gutsy innings and pitched the Eagles to a victory over the Lynchburg Hornets in the ODAC Championship game.

Bridgewater took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first. Devon Snow singled and Kevin Kirk doubled to send Snow to third. Snow scored on a groundout by Brett Howell for a 1-0 BC lead.

The Hornets tied the score with a run in the second and the score remained 1-1 until the fourth when Lynchburg took the lead, 2-1, on a solo homer by Chris Colquhoun.

The lead didn't last long as the Eagles answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Howell reached on an error and moved to third on a double by Blake Stokely. Howell scored on a groundout by Andy Chrismer and Stokely scored on a groundout by Drew Elkins to put the Eagles on top 3-2.

Bridgewater opened up some breathing room with four runs in the top of the fifth. Snow plated the first run of the inning with a single and Snow scored on a double by Stokely, making the score 5-2. Chrismer singled home two more runs as the Eagles opened up a 7-2 lead.

The Eagles added another run in the sixth when Snow walked and scored all the way from first on a double by Kirk, making the score 8-2.

The Hornets were not finished as they added two runs in the seventh to trim the deficit to 8-4. Mike Walters plated a run with a double and Walters scored on a double by Cameron Grant.

Hartman turned the game over to the bullpen with Kevin Chandler taking the mound in the eighth. Chandler, with two priors wins in the tourney out of the pen, gave up a solo homer to Ryan Litz to make it 8-5.

Bridgewater added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Easter doubled and moved to third on a bunt by Devon Snow. Easter scored on a wild pitch, making the score 9-5.

The Eagles then turned to senior Alex Foltz in the ninth. Foltz retired the Hornets in order to finish off Bridgewater's championship run through the loser's bracket.

The 2010 NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament is set to begin on Wednesday, May 19 at one of eight regional sites.  For more information on the NCAA tournament, visit the event’s website at http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-basebl/champpage/m-basebl-div3-index.html.  

Listed below is the 2010 ODAC Baseball All-Tournament Team.  For more information on ODAC baseball, visit any of the participating schools’ websites, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. 
2010 ODAC Baseball All-Tournament Team
Pitcher: Alex Foltz, Bridgewater
Pitcher: John West, Hampden-Sydney
Catcher: Jay Lichter, Randolph-Macon
1^st Base: Drew Elkins, Bridgewater
2^nd Base: Kevin Davis, Randolph-Macon
3^rd Base: Jim Plantholt, Washington and Lee
Shortstop: Jonathan Stutts, Washington and Lee
Outfield: Jeff Taylor, Jr., Lynchburg
Outfield: Mike Walters, Lynchburg
Outfield: Herbie Williams, Hampden-Sydney

Tournament MVP: Mike Walters, Lynchburg

This release is courtesy of the Bridgewater College sports information department.