Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MIAMI (OH)
Softball Holds Off Miami, 2-1
April 27, 2001 | Softball
April 27, 2001
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University softball team got a pair of first-inning runs, and made that total stand up, for a 2-1 win over Miami University Friday (April 27). The Mid-American Conference game, the opener of a three-game weekend series, was held at the BGSU Softball Field.
With the victory, the host Falcons improve to 27-16 overall and 14-4 in MAC play. The RedHawks drop to 16-31 and 6-13, respectively.
All three of the game's runs came in that first inning, as MU opened the scoring in the top of the frame. Keri Brisnehan, the first batter of the game, singled and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Jamie Carey. After BG sophomore McKenna Houle induced Kristina Mortaloni to hit a grounder for the second out of the inning, Angie Gerber singled up the middle to score Brisnehan. The MU runner barely beat the throw of BG senior centerfielder Jen Domschot.
BGSU answered quickly in the bottom of the inning. Senior Nikki Rouhana led off by driving a double to the left-center gap, and took third when Jen Domschot reached on a one-out error.
After Domschot stole second, the runners moved up on a wild pitch by MU's Abbey Arnold. Rouhana scored to tie the game, and Domschot took third. Then, junior Renee Rosemeier singled to plate Domschot with what would prove to be the winning run.
The RedHawks had two hits in the second inning, with a BG error figuring into the mix. But, BG catcher Holly Frantz nailed one RedHawk trying to steal second, and Houle got out of a jam, getting Brisnehan to hit a grounder back to the pitcher's circle with two outs and runners on second and third.
The RedHawks threatened again in the third, putting runners at second and third again, this time with no outs. Then, Houle uncorked what appeared to be a wild pitch. But, Frantz tracked down the ball and fired to Houle covering the plate. The sophomore put the tag on Carey for the first out of the inning. From there, Houle got a grounder to short and a soft liner to third for the final two outs.
Meanwhile, Arnold was cruising along for the RedHawks, as she allowed just one hit after the second inning.
Freshman Jody Johnson came on in relief of Houle to start the fourth, and allowed only one hit in her four innings of work. She retired the first seven batters she faced, before Gerber doubled with one out in the sixth. But, Johnson got Nicki Pelfrey to pop up to shortstop, and fanned Erin Kucera.
In the seventh, Johnson issued the only walk by Falcon pitchers all day, putting leadoff hitter Jacki Molinaro on base. The next RedHawk hitter, in a sacrifice attempted, popped up to Johnson for the first out. Then, however, a wild pitch sent the potential tying run to second. Johnson got Mary Neal to ground out to Libby Voshell at short, with the runner holding at second. Then came an epic, game-ending at-bat.
Johnson and Brisnehan battled for 14 pitches, with the MU junior fouling off a total of 10 of those pitches. Finally, Johnson induced Brisnehan to pop up, and third baseman Lynsey Ebel squeezed the ball to end the game.
Johnson got the win with her four innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. She walked one batter and struck out one, improving to 6-2 on the year.
Houle, the Falcon starter, allowed one run and six hits in her three innings. She did not issue a walk or strike out a batter.
Arnold suffered the loss despite a fine complete-game outing. She gave up just five hits and one earned run in six innings, but saw her record fall to 6-20. Arnold walked two batters and fanned four.
The teams will return to the BGSU Softball Field for a Saturday (April 28) doubleheader, with the first game scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
