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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
BUFFALO
BG Baseball Handles Buffalo, 16-7
April 06, 2001 | Baseball
April 6, 2001
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green (16-8, 6-2 MAC) scored in each of the final five innings of play to defeat MAC opponent Buffalo (7-17, 2-7 MAC) this afternoon at Steller Field. Through 4 1/2 innings of play, Buffalo actually led the game by a single run with a score of 4-3. However the Falcons would then score 13 more runs in the final five innings to pick up the important MAC victory.
Buffalo had jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first as Bryan Sanchez hit a 2-run homerun for the Bulls. Bowling Green then scored their first runs in the 2nd inning as senior 3B Scott Dukate blasted his team-high 7th homerun of the season over the left-field wall. Bowling Green would not score in the third, however at this time it was the phenomenal pitching of senior RHP Craig Menke (5IP, 6ER, 10K) that was keeping the Falcons going, as he fanned 8 batters in the first three innings. He would finish with ten strikeouts through five innings.
BG's first big inning came in the 5th, as five Falcons crossed home plate. Junior SS Nick Elrod, junior LF Len Elias, and Dukate would all have RBI singles in the inning, with Elias stealing home to score. Elrod would go on to have four hits total in the game. Sophomore Kelly Hunt, who would go on to score a run for the Falcons in the 6th, finished with three hits and three runs scored.
Freshman RHP Ryan Lindquist (3.1IP, 0ER, 1H) appeared for the Falcons in the 6th, and threw 3 1/3 solid innings as a reliever, giving up zero runs on only one hit. After senior CF Aric Christman blasted a grand slam homerun in the 9th inning, his second homerun of the year, the Falcons victory was ensured. Lindquist would finish the game and recorded his first collegiate save as Menke (4-1) earned the victory. Buffalo's Mike Leslie (0-1) recorded the loss for the Bulls.
The Falcons continue their series with Buffalo tommorow with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00pm at Steller Field. The conclusion of the series is scheduled to take place Sunday at 1:00pm.
