FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Sophomore Megan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout to lead the Bridgewater State University softball team to a 6-0 victory over Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Bears dropped their season-opener to Olivet College, 3-0.
In her first appearance of the season, Dunn was impressive as she walked just two Eastern Nazarene batters and struck out eight.
Bridgewater opened the scoring in the second inning as junior Kate Youngstrom (Holden, Mass.) doubled with one out, went to third on a groundout and scored on an RBI single by classmate Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, Mass.). In the third, senior Tracey Sanko (Windsor, Conn.) singled, stole second and scored on an RBI single by junior Jordan McDermott (East Bridgewater, Mass.).
The Bears put the game out of reach with a four-run fifth inning. With one out, Sanko reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. McDermott followed with a base hit and also moved to second on an errant throw. Sophomore Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.) then plated both runners with a pinch hit double. Senior Penny King (Hanover, Mass.) kept the inning alive with a bunt single and alertly kept on running to second. One out later, sophomore Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.) singled scoring both Shaw and King.
Sanko went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. McDermott was also 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Youngstrom went 2-for-3 with a run.
Earlier in the day in the season-opener, Olivet senior Katie Harper (Vassar, MI) blanked the Bears on just three hits while striking out five.
Freshman Lauren Lenard (Dimondale, MI) had a pinch hit two-run single in the fifth inning for the Comets to break a scoreless tie. Later in the inning, junior Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak, MI) hit a sacrifice fly to score the third run.
Sanko pitched well for Bridgewater in the loss as she gave up three runs, only one of which was earned, on just four hits with a walk and six strikeouts.