Bridgewater Wins ODAC Baseball Title
Shaffer Tosses Two-Hitter in Victory
April 29, 2007  -  Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. --- Bridgewater College (21-21) defeated Hampden-Sydney College (25-18) for the second in as many days, shutting out the Tigers 7-0 to claim the 2007 title of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Championship.  The victory marked the 12^th ODAC crown for the Eagles, tops in the conference all-time.

Right-hander Nolan Shaffer more than made amends for his rough outing on Friday night, returning the favor by tossing a complete game shutout, both first for him on the season.  Shaffer, who game up five runs in 2.1 innings in a 7-0 loss to HSC on Friday, gave up only two hits and walked one in nine innings of work.  He fanned six batters to help improve his season record to 4-5.

Hampden-Sydney starter Daniel Hadra couldn’t duplicate his shutout effort from Friday night.  The Eagles forced him from the game in the fourth inning, collecting eight hits and four runs (two earned) off the HSC righty.

Bridgewater cut down any chance of Hadra’s second shutout early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.  With two down, Ricky Read singled back up the middle and moved to second when Andrew Chrismer reached on a fielding error by the third baseman.  Michael Lenox followed with an RBI single to right field to bring in Read.  Aaron Read blooped one over the second baseman’s head for the third hit of the innings, driving in Chrismer from second for a 2-0 BC advantage.

The Eagles put another pair on the board in the fourth inning, chasing Hadra from the game.  Brad Buracker singled to second with one out and stole second base to give BC a runner in scoring position.  Buracker would have scored anyway as Brooks followed with a triple to right.  The Eagles’ shortstop came home on the next play, a single to left by Mike Graves.

Bridgewater tacked on three more insurance runs in the eighth inning.  Chance Dobbs led off with a single and came home to score two batters later on a double to right by Brooks.  Ricky Read, named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after the game, doubled home Brooks with a shot to right for a 6-0 HSC advantage.  Chrismer followed with a single back up the middle to plate Read for the game’s final run. 

Ricky Read led all Bridgewater hitters with four hits including a pair of doubles.  He also scored two runs.  Brooks had three hits and two RBI, and Chrismer, Aaron Read and Buracker each had two hits.

Winning the ODAC championship awards the Eagles an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.  Play will start in regional action at a time and location that has yet to be determined.

All-Tournament Team
Pitcher: Larry Greene, Hampden-Sydney
Catcher: Matt Hudgins, Virginia Wesleyan
1^st Base: Jon Crews, Lynchburg
2^nd Base: Aaron Read, Bridgewater
3^rd Base: Daniel Prieto, Hampden-Sydney
Shortstop: Jono Brooks, Bridgewater
Outfield: John Apperson, Hampden-Sydney
Outfield: Mike Graves, Bridgewater
Outfield: Luke Swiney, Hampden-Sydney
Designated Hitter: Michael Lenox, Bridgewater

Most Outstanding Player: Ricky Read, Bridgewater