Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
AKRON
BGSU Ties School Record With 36th Victory of Season, 6-3 Over Akron
May 11, 2001 | Baseball
May 11, 2001
Akron, Ohio - Several Falcons contributed to Bowling Green State University's record-tying 36th victory at Lee Jackson Field against the University of Akron on Friday afternoon, 6-3. The win improves the Falcons to 36-13 overall and 17-6 in the Mid-American Conference.
Local native Lee Morrison smacked a couple of two-run home runs, one in the third inning and one in the eighth inning, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate with four runs batted in.
Senior Aric Christman began the game with a triple to left-center field and scored one batter later when Len Elias grounded out to second base for an early 1-0 Falcon lead.
After the Falcons were retired in order in the second, Christman began the next scoring spurt for BGSU with a lead-off single in the third inning. This time, he stole second and scored on a double by Elias. Morrison then brought Elias home on his first of two home runs over the right-field fence, giving BGSU a 4-0 lead in the third.
Meanwhile, right-handed pitcher Craig Menke was keeping the Zips in check by allowing just one hit in the first three innings, including retiring Akron in order in the first and third innings.
Akron (13-34 overall, 6-18 in MAC) scored its first run of the game in the fourth frame when Clarke White doubled past a diving Morrison in right field, scoring Sean Manfredonia.
Both teams were held scoreless over the next three innings until Morrison hit his second homer of the game, this time scoring Christman, for a 6-1 Falcon advantage. Menke walked the first batter in the bottom of the eighth and then struckout the next three batters, giving the senior nine strikeouts in the game.
Senior Brian Thacker entered in relief to start the ninth for BGSU and allowed two runs on four hits before freshman Clayton Booth recorded the last out with two runners on base for his fifth save of the year and giving BGSU a 6-3 win.
Christman finished 4-for-5 at the plate and scored three of BGSU's six runs while Menke improved to 6-1 on the year.
Bowling Green is now just one win away from setting a new school record for wins in a season and giving head coach Danny Schmitz his 300th collegiate coaching victory. Also, the Falcons remain in the hunt to host the MAC tournament with West Division leading Ball State losing on Friday to Western Michigan.
BGSU plays a doubleheader at Akron on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
