ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The NC Wesleyan College baseball team dropped their opening series of the season on Saturday falling 5-2 and 4-0 in two 7-inning games to Bridgewater College from Bauer Field.

GAME 1: BC 5, NCWC 2

Sophomore starter Payne Stolsworth (0-1) got off to a rocky start in the first inning of fame one walking in a run before allowing a RBI triple and sacrifice fly in the 2nd inning and an RBI double in the third that knocked him out of the game. He finished throwing 2 and 2/3 innings allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out four. Reliever Clayton Gilmore came on in the 4th inning and finished the game allowing just one run on 2 hits while striking out three.

Gilmore helped keep the Bishops in the game as they mounted a mini rally scoring two in the 4th to get within 4-2, but could get no closer unfortunately. Freshman first baseman Adam Conte came on as a pinch-hitter in the 4th and singled in the first Bishop run scoring sophomore DH Zach Scott before a Cord Butler RBI groundout drove in senior Nate Hibbs.

Scott led the offense with two hits while junior CF Drifton Padgett recorded a double. Tristian Griffin and Jackson Hobbs also recorded singles. 

GAME 2: BC 4, NCWC 0

Two Bridgewater pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout of the Bishops while striking out 11. Wesleyan pitched well also allowing just 3 earned runs as senior starter Drew Tubb (0-1) tossed 4 and 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits while striking out four. Senior reliever Kevin Williams then allowed two hits and 2 runs over two innings while sophomore reliever Cullen Davis finished out the game striking out two and allowing no hits.

Offensively, sophomore outfielder Alex Moskal could only muster one hit for the offense while BC used a homer and two RBI singles for the win improving to 2-1 and dropping Wesleyan to 1-2.

The Bishops return to action on Tuesday when they remain home to host Ferrum College at 2:00 PM.