Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Baseball Splits At Marshall
April 14, 2001 | Baseball
April 14, 2001
Huntington, W.V. - Two of the top hitting teams in the Mid-American Conference, BGSU and Marshall combined for 41 runs on 46 hits in a doubleheader split, Saturday
Marshall took the opening game over Bowling Green 12-7 before dropping a 15-7 decision in the second game. The series finale is tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Marshall (19-14, 7-4 in MAC play) scored early in the opening game, jumping out to an 8-1 lead after just two innings of play. Jason Ricceri had two-run homers in each of the first two innings.
Homer Renshaw also had a two-run HR in the second inning while Bryan Colley had a two-run double.
Bowling Green (22-10, 10-4) closed to within 8-6 on a pair of home runs by Lee Morrison. The senior launched a three-run blast in the third inning and had a two-run shot in the fifth, both off Marshall starter Steve Fowler (4-0).
The Herd answered with a four-run fifth that was highlighted by an RBI double from Matt Eldridge and a two-run double by Ryan Kobbe. Grant Harper came on to work a scoreless seventh inning for Marshall to preserve the victory.
The second game provided even more fireworks as BG jumped out to an 8-0 lead, chasing Marshall starter Rick Suter (1-4) in the third inning. Kelly Hunt and Morrison had back-to-back homers to start the third and David Viane delivered a three-run shot to chase Suter.
Marshall cut the deficit in half in the home third. Renshaw had his second two-run homer of the day and Jason Brooks had an RBI double off Falcons' starter Neil Schmitz (2-1). The freshman lefty went seven innings in the game, allowing seven runs on nine hits while walking four and striking out four.
BGSU answered the challenge in the fourth with five runs off reliever Trapper Tyrell. Scott Dukate, Andy Hudak, Nick Elrod and Viane all drove in runs in the inning.
The Herd made it's last grasp at a comeback in the fifth when Ricceri delivered another three-run homer, his 13th of the year. Brian Thacker came on to work the final two innings for the Falcons, allowing just two hits while striking out four.
Morrison was the Falcons hitting star after going 6-for-8 in the twin-bill, with three homers and six RBI. Viane, who only played in the second game for BG, had three hits, including a home run, and six RBI.
(Courtesy Marshall Sports Information)
