Softball Opens 2016 Campaign

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Bridgewater State University softball team opened the 2016 season with a pair of setbacks at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Florida.

The Bears dropped a 3-1 decision to Albion College and then fell to Olivet College by a score of 8-0.

In the opener, Monica Brugnoni tossed a complete game, two hitter and fanned 13 to lead the Britons (1-2) to their first win of the season.

Kelly McCarthy gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits with eight strikeouts in the setback for the Bears.

Brugnoni got the Britons on the board early with a two-run single in the top of the first inning. Albion tacked on an unearned run in the sixth to make it a 3-0 game.

Bridgewater broke up the shutout bid with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Tara McCann worked a one-out walk and moved to third on McCarthy's base hit. After McCarthy stole second, Morgan Cox plated McCann with a sacrifice fly. Alice Garvin then made a fine running catch on a ball hit in the gap to end the game.

Carrie Chamberlain tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Olivet to the 8-0 win over the Bears. Chamberlain walked three batters and fanned just one.

Both hits Chamberlain allowed came in the fourth inning. The Bears loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of singles by McCann and Cox followed by a walk to Jenny Heller. Chamberlain, however, recorded her only strikeout of the game to end the threat.

Taylor Smith paced the Comets' eight-hit attack as she went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Kelsey Scheenks reached safely three times in four plate appearances as she finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Ashlynn Grubb also had two hits for the Comets (3-1) as she singled and doubled in four at bats and drove in a run.

Kathleen Bailey went the distance in the circle for Bridgewater State as she gave up eight runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Only four of the eight runs were earned as the Bears committed five errors in the game.

The Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic continues on Monday afternoon for Bridgewater State. The Bears take on Eastern Nazarene College at one and Marian University at three.