(BRIDGEWATER, Va.) - Wilmington split their season-opening doubleheader, taking down Mount Aloysius College 2-0 in the morning before falling to Bridgewater College 5-3 in the evening.  

Game 1  

Ashley Jo Hardesty's first career collegiate home run and Audrey Gildea's complete game shoutout propelled the Quakers to a 2-0 victory to open their season. Gildea grooved through the top of the 1st, striking out the side. Hardesty went deep in the bottom of the 1st inning, scoring herself and Jocelyn Franz for the only runs of the game.  

Mount Aloysius got a runner on second base in the top of the 2nd, but the next batter lined into a double play, getting Wilmington out of the inning. In the top of the 3rd, the Mounties leadoff batter walked, stole second, and the next batter walked. The third batter's sacrifice bunt failed, getting the lead out at third base. Gildea got the next batter out to avoid the jam.  

To close the game, Gildea struck out two batters and forced one ground out to shutout the Mounties 2-0.  

Game 1 Notables 

• Audrey Gildea went the distance in her first collegiate start. The freshman allowed three hits, three walks, and struck out six to earn her first win. Gildea also went 2-3 at the plate with a double and a single. She forced four double plays in the contest.  

• Jocelyn Franz went 1-3 with a double and a run scored  

• Ashley Jo Hardesty hit her first career home run in the top of the first, scoring Franz from second. Hardesty went 2-3, 2 RBIs, and one run scored.  

• Alasandra Spears went 1-2 with a single, a walk, and one stolen base.  

Game 2  

The Quakers drew early blood, scoring in the top of 1st. Franz and Addysen Stevens singled back-to-back. Maddie Starnes reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Stevens to advance to second, and Franz to score. Bridgewater responded in the bottom of the 1st. The leadoff hitter singled and stole second before their three-hole hitter doubled, advancing her to third. A sacrifice fly brought in the runner, tying the score 1-1. 

Wilmington answered in the top of the 2nd after Lauryn Humphrey reached by a hit-by-pitch. Kimberlyn Masino was hit by a pitch right after, and the two advanced to third and second after a wild pitch. Franz drove both runners in with a double, putting the Quakers ahead 3-1. The Eagles scored in the bottom of the 2nd, drawing in their runner with a triple to right field.  

The Eagles trailed 3-2 until the bottom of the 4th. The second batter walked, and after a throwing error, the runner and batter both advanced to third and second. A failed pickoff attempt drove in the tying run. Then Bridgewater singled to left field, scoring the go ahead run to lead 4-3.  

Bridgewater drove in an insurance run in the bottom of the 5th after the leadoff hitter singled, and a pinch-hitter doubled down the line to bring in the Eagles' fifth run. Wilmington went down in order in the top of the 7th, falling 5-3 to Bridgewater.  

Game 2 Notables 

• Belle Baughman started in the circle for the Quakers. Baughman went 3.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs (two earned), two walks, and one strikeout. 

• Megan Spence made her collegiate debut in relief of Baughman. Spence went 2.2 innings, allowing just one earned run, two hits, three walks, and striking out one.  

• Jocelyn Franz went 2-3 with a double and a single. Franz had 2 RBIs, one run scored, and drew one walk.  

• Addysen Stevens went 1-3 with a single, drew one walk, and stole one base. 

• Lauryn Humphrey scored one run, reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. 

• Kymberlin Masino scored one run, also reaching by a hit-by-pitch. 

What's Up Next 

The Quakers will face off against Mount Aloysius College at 9:30 A.M. and McDaniel College at 1:30 P.M. tomorrow.