Falcons Battle but Fall Short in MAC Tourney Opener

Wednesday, May 25

Chillicothe, Ohio

7:30 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

No. 1 Kent State

May 26, 2011 | Baseball

Bowling Green will play NIU on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. after a Day One loss to Kent State.

By: by Ryan Gasser, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio -- Most of what needed to be done to finalize the box score had occurred in the first inning of Wednesday evening's game between the Falcons and the Kent State Golden Flashes, but the dramatics were present through the last pitch. Bowling Green fell just short, leaving the tying run at the plate in a 6-2 loss in their opening game of the 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament.

May 25, 2011 - Final
	R	H	E
Bowling Green	2	7	1
Kent State	6	12	0

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A four-run first inning by the Golden Flashes made the difference in the loss, though Bowling Green drew first blood with a run in the game's first at bat. Frank Berry (Virginia Beach, Va.) raised the Falcon crowd to its feet leading off the game with a double over the left fielder's head and off the wall. The cheers continued when sophomore Matt Pitzulo (Poland, Ohio) drove him home with a single shot up the middle to give the Brown and Orange an early 1-0 lead over the top-seeded Golden Flashes.

Kent State answered back with four runs in the bottom of the first against BGSU starting pitcher Matt Malewitz (Grand Rapids, Mich.). A leadoff single and walk set the table for Ben Klafczynski, who hit a one-out single to right field that allowed both runners to score to give KSU the lead, 2-1. Klafczynski later stole second base and was followed by a second walk, putting runners on second and third. Designated hitter Jason Bagoly emptied the bases with a triple that found a gap in right field, extending the lead to three runs for Kent State.

Malewitz (2-3) remained in the game and battled through the heart of the KSU lineup twice more, allowing no additional runs in his three remaining innings of work. He finished throwing four complete innings with the first inning being his only costly frame.

The Falcons cut the lead to two runs in the third inning when Pitzulo struck again for his second run-scoring hit of the day. Jon Berti (Troy, Mich.) started a two-out rally when he doubled into the left center field gap. On the next batter, Pitzulo lit up Kent State starter David Starn (9-2) for a RBI single to left field, scoring Berti easily and making it a 4-2 game.

Junior Ross Gerdeman (Fort Jennings, Ohio) held the team steady in his third straight long relief appearance and fourth in his last five outings. He went four innings and did not allow a run until the ninth frame. He allowed the final two runs to score on three consecutive hits to the KSU three, four and five hitters on RBI doubles to Klafczynski and David Lyon.

The Bowling Green defense helped keep the game within striking distance, highlighted by an outfield assist from right fielder Patrick Lancaster (Woodhaven, Mich.). In the sixth inning and with a man on second, Jimmy Rider hit a solid single to right field. The freshman came up throwing and tossed a bullet to Ryan Schlater (St. Paris, Ohio) behind the plate, applying the tag for a textbook putout. Gerdeman also held his own by catching Lyon between second and third the very next inning. After stabbing a hard hit chopper out of the air, Gerdeman tracked down Lyon and ran him toward third, started a rundown and then applied the tag to take away what would have been a run scored.

Bowling Green provided some dramatics despite entering their last at bat trailing 6-2 in the top of the ninth. Pitzulo led the inning off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch by reliever Justin Gill. Clay Duncan (Norwalk, Ohio) singled up the middle but the brakes were put on Pitzulo at third.

The Flashes brought in All-MAC First Team reliever Kyle McMillen to close the door but he walked Alex Davison (Grand Ledge, Mich.) to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate with one out. Ryan Schlater stepped to the plate and on a 1-1 pitch grounded to third base, leading to a 5-4-3 game-ending double play.

With the loss, Bowling Green (20-30) now plays Northern Illinois at 12:30 p.m. in VA Memorial Stadium (Chillicothe, Ohio) for the right to continue in the 2011 MAC Tournament. Charles Wooten (5-6, 3.59) will take the mound against NIU left-hander Tom Barry (4-5, 3.93).

If the Falcons defeat the Huskies, the Falcons will play on Friday at 9 a.m. against the loser of Kent State and Eastern Michigan. If the Falcons lose, they are eliminated from the tournament.

Full coverage of Falcon baseball and all 18 varsity sports can be found on the official online home of BGSU athletics, www.BGSUFalcons.com. Be sure to follow the Falcons on Facebook by searching “BG Warriors” or follow them on Twitter through www.twitter.com/WEAREBGBASEBALL.

Other MAC Tournament scores:
Eastern Michigan 4, Northern Illinois 1
Miami 3, Toledo 1
Western Michigan 9, Central Michigan 7