Playoff Roundup: Bridgewater dominates in 9-1 game two victory

Corbin Lucas receives his plaque for winning the 2019 RCBL MVP award. He hit .425 this season with five home runs for the Reds.

By Matthew Atkins

BRIDGEWATER - Nobody is more hyped up than the Bridgewater Reds are right now. A team that lost most of its core over the offseason is now one win away from making a third straight trip to the RCBL Finals. 

After winning a close 11-9 game one against Broadway on Tuesday, Bridgewater came out firing on all cylinders Wednesday night as the Reds cruised to a 9-1 win in game two. Tucker Garrison turned in a fantastic performance on the mound, pitching eight innings and allowing just two hits while striking out nine batters. 

The Reds bats provided Garrison with room to work as they combined for 14 hits throughout the night. It took a while to get going, but once they did, they didn't stop. 

Broadway went up 1-0 in the top of the first and held on to that lead for a while. It looked like the game would be a pitchers' duel, but the Reds had other plans. 

Brett Tharp, Derek Shifflett, Grey Sherfey and Corbin Lucas all came around to score in the bottom of the fifth as Bridgewater took its first lead of the ballgame. A three-run sixth inning extended that lead even further and put the pressure on Broadway. 

The Reds would go on to score one run each in the seventh and eighth innings to cap off the game. 

Lucas, who received his MVP plaque prior to the game, went 2-for-5 on the night with two runs scored and an RBI. Will Clift notched four hits, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs. 

The Reds have now won four straight to begin the 2019 playoffs and they don't show any signs of slowing down. Broadway will have to be at its best in game three tomorrow night if the Bruins want to keep their season going. 

Up Next:
​
Bridgewater and Broadway get the night off tonight before resuming their series tomorrow at Broadway High School. The other semifinal series between Clover Hill and Elkton continues tonight at Buck Bowman Park. Tonight's game three is scheduled for a 7:30 first pitch. 

---