Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
BUFFALO
Houle Throws Shutout At Buffalo
April 21, 2001 | Softball
April 21, 2001
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Sophomore McKenna Houle threw a five-hit shutout as the Bowling Green State University softball team posted a 3-0 win over the host University at Buffalo Saturday (April 21). The game, the first half of a Mid-American Conference doubleheader, was held at the UB Softball Stadium.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 23-14 overall and 11-3 in MAC play. The host Bulls dropped to 8-33 and 3-14, respectively.
The Falcons got on the board quickly, scoring a first-inning run on back-to-back-to-back hits. Senior Nikki Rouhana led off the game with a single, and sophomore Kandice Machain reached base on an infield single, with Rouhana moving to second. Senior Jen Domschot followed with a single to plate Rouhana and give Houle the only run she would need.
In the home half of the second, Houle got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam. The Falcon sophomore got UB's Laura Gilcrist to hit a grounder to third. Lynsey Ebel fielded the ball and threw to catcher Holly Frantz, forcing Kim Lawrence at the plate. Then, the Bulls' Alison Round hit a fly ball to leftfield, where Machain made a nice running catch to end the inning.
In the fourth, sophomore Libby Voshell beat out an infield grounder for a single, and freshman Jenifer Kernahan sent pinch-runner Crystal Wilson to second with a sacrifice bunt. Frantz singled to send Wilson to third. The next hitter, Rouhana, hit into a fielder's choice for the second out. Frantz was forced at second base, and Wilson had to hold at third. Then, Machain stepped to the plate.
The Falcon sophomore ripped a double that landed at the base of the wall in right-center. Wilson scored on the play, and Rouhana came all the way around from first base to give the Brown and Orange a 3-0 lead.
Houle faced just one more real threat in her pursuit of the shutout. The first two Bulls hitters singled in the sixth, but the BG sophomore then got three consecutive outs.
For the game, the Falcons outhit the hosts by a 15-5 margin. Machain led the way with a 3-for-4 effort for BG, while Rouhana was 2-of-4 with two runs scored. Jen Domschot, Voshell and Frantz all had two hits apiece as well.
The teams combined to leave 21 runners on base, with the Falcons stranding 12 and the Bulls nine.
Houle's complete-game win moved her record to 9-5 on the year and 6-1 in MAC play. She walked three batters and struck out five.
UB's Andrea Sage took the loss to fall to 3-17 on the spring. Sage threw a complete game, allowing three runs and 15 hits. She struck out one batter and did not issue a walk.
The teams were scheduled to return to the diamond for a second Saturday game.
