CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team split a pair of games to open the 2020 season at the Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. The Bears blanked University of Northwestern in five innings, 8-0, and dropped a 4-3 decision to Montclair State University.

Game One: Bridgewater State 8, Univ. of Northwestern 0 (5 Inn.)

Laura Hatch (Middleboro, Mass.) tossed a two-hit shutout to pick up he first win of the season and second career shutout to lead the Bears' to the 8-0 shutout of Northwestern in the season-opener. The game was stopped after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Hatch (1-0) induced nine ground ball outs, walked just one batter, fanned two and allowed only one ball to reach the outfield.

Bridgewater State broke open a scoreless game with a seven-run fourth inning. The Bears loaded the bases on back-to-back walks to Jenny Heller (Chicopee, Mass.) and Alexandra Taylor (Hebron, Conn.) followed by a base hit from Megan Sharon (East Longmeadow, Mass.). After a fielder's choice ground out erased Heller at the plate, Kim Scanlon (Medford, Mass.) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop which allowed two runs to score. An RBI bunt single by Courtney Gouveia (Taunton, Mass.) extended the BSU lead to 3-0. After a Samantha Mulcahy (Taunton, Mass.) walk re-loaded the bases. Emma Healy (Plymouth, Mass.) cleared them with a three-run double to deep centerfield. Healy would come around to score the Bears' seventh run of the frame two batters later when Heller reached on an error.

The Bears made it an 8-0 game in the top of the fifth. Sharon singled to lead off the inning, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and raced home on Scanlon's RBI ground out.

Sharon went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to pace the Bears offensively. Healy finished 1-for-3 with the key three-run double, while Gouveia went 1-for-2 with a walk, run and RBI.

Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz.) picked up the loss in the circle for the Eagles (3-9) as she worked three-plus innings. Boyce (1-2) allowed two runs and walked six, but did not give up a hit. Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn.) gave up six runs (four earned) on four hits and a walk.

Game Two: Montclair State 4, Bridgewater State 3

Montclair rallied for two runs in the top of seventh inning to come away with the 4-3 victory.

Kiara Ruiz (Wharton, N.J.) went the distance in the circle for the Red Hawks (6-0) to pick up her second win of the season. Ruiz (2-0) gave up three runs (one earned) on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

The Red Hawks pushed across a run in the top of the first on an RBI ground out and added another in the fourth on a run-scoring single by Jenna Meluso (Kinnelon, N.J.).

Bridgewater State plated three runs in the home half of the fourth to jump out in front, 3-2. The Bears loaded the bases with two outs on a double by Heller and walks to Taylor and Scanlon. A Gouveia RBI infield single and a pair of throwing errors on the same play allowed all three baserunners to come around to score.

The score remained 3-2 until the top of the seventh inning. A leadoff double by Amber Powers (Newton, N.J.) and a sacrifice bunt put the tying run on third. Elena Radesich (White Plains, N.Y.) followed with an RBI single to right to knot the score at 3-3. Pinch runner Ahmira Miller (Clinton, Md.) advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out. Valentina Cucci (Bronx, N.Y.) then ripped a double past the BSU third baseman to plate Miller with the go-ahead run.

Ruiz worked around a two-out single in the seventh to secure the win for the Red Hawks.

Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) went the distance in the circle for the Bears in the setback. Reichert (0-1) allowed four runs (three earned) on ten hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.

Powers (2-3, 2B, BB, 2R), Meluso (2-3, RBI) and Alexis Law (Berlin Township, N.J.) each finished with multiple hits for Montclair State. Law singled twice in three at bats.

Taylor went 1-for-2 with a walk and run scored to lead the BSU offense.

In upcoming action, the Bears take on Alfred University (4:15 PM) and Plymouth State University (6:30 PM) on Tuesday at The Spring Games.