Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
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Baseball Drops MAC Tournament Opener
May 17, 2001 | Baseball
May 17, 2001
MUNCIE, Ind. - In a game that took two days to complete, Central Michigan used a 10-run eighth inning to post a 20-15 win over the Bowling Green State University baseball team. The contest was the opener for both teams in the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Ball Diamond.
The game, which began Wednesday afternoon (May 16) at approximately 4:40 p.m. local time (5:40 p.m. BG time), was suspended due to darkness with one out in the bottom of the ninth and CMU leading by that 20-15 score.
When play was resumed Thursday morning, it took just three pitches to conclude the contest. On that third pitch, a double-play ball gave the fifth-seeded Chippewas the win.
CMU improves to 35-22 with the win, while the second-seeded Falcons drop to 36-17. The Falcons will face the loser of the Ball State-Miami game in an elimination contest scheduled for later Thursday (May 17).
That BSU-Miami game was scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, with the Falcons' game to follow, approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the BSU-MU contest. For the second consecutive day, however, the weather could play a factor, as the forecast calls for inclement weather in the Muncie area again Thursday.
On Wednesday, BGSU starter Craig Menke struck out the side in the top of the first inning, but was forced to leave the game due to injury in the top of the second. The Chippewas scored six times in the third inning off reliever Brett Baumgartner.
The Brown and Orange rallied with three runs in the bottom of the frame, with the big blow coming in the form of a two-run homer off the bat of senior Lee Morrison. But, CMU scored single runs in the fourth and fifth, and plated two more runs in the seventh to take a 10-3 lead.
Again, BG rallied, cutting the margin to 10-8 with a five-run seventh inning. In that frame, the Falcons scored all five runs after two men were out, capped by a Scott Dukate grand slam.
But, the Chippewas put 10 runs on the board in the eighth, and BGSU's six-run inning in the bottom of the frame left the Falcons still trailing by six.
In the BG eighth, though, the Falcons hit three more homers, all with two outs. Morrison hit a three-run blast to plate Aric Christman and David Viane. The next batter, sophomore Kelly Hunt, hit a solo shot. After Nick Elrod drew a walk, Dukate became the third Falcon in a span of four batters to go yard, with his second homer of the game.
The Falcons got a run in the bottom of the ninth before play was called due to darkness, and the double-play ball Thursday morning made a winner out of CMU starter Dan Horvath. Horvath allowed eight runs and nine hits in six-and-two-thirds innings.
Baumgartner, now 5-4, suffered the loss. He allowed eight runs and eight hits in three-and-a-third innings.
Offensively, seniors Dukate and Morrison led the way for the Falcons. Dukate had a pair of homers, moving his seasonal total to 16, and drove in six runs.
Morrison homered twice and had five RBI in the game. He improves his school-record totals to 18 round-trippers and 63 RBI.
Hunt's homer was part of a 3-for-4 contest. Christman also had two hits, while Viane came off the bench to go 2-for-2 in the game.
CMU was led by Tim Bullinger, who had five hits in six at-bats. Bullinger had two doubles and a homer, scoring three runs and driving in six. Mike Galloway was 3-of-5 with two runs scored and five RBI.
The loss leaves the Falcons one win away from setting a school record for wins. BGSU stands in a tie for the seasonal victories mark, as the 1977 and 1999 teams also won 36 games.
The MAC Tournament results and Thursday's schedule (weather permitting) follow:
2001 MAC Tournament
Wed., May 16:
Game 1 1:00 p.m. #3 Kent State 26, #4 Ohio 10
Game 2 4:40 p.m. #5 Central Michigan 20, #2 Bowling Green 15
(game suspended due to darkness and completed Thu. morning)
Thu., May 17: Game 3 9:30 a.m.^ #1 Ball State vs. #6 Miami Game 4 30 min. after Bowling Green vs. Game 3 loser Game 5 30 min. after Ohio vs. Game 3 winner Game 5 30 min. after Central Michigan vs. Kent State ^ approximate start time
