Bowling Green State University Athletics
Final 2002 Baseball Release
June 24, 2002 | Baseball
June 24, 2002
Bowling Green, Ohio -
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BGSU Wins 2002 MAC Regular Season Title
Bowling Green captured the 2002 Mid-American Conference regular season title for the first time since 1995 with a 12-9 victory against Akron on Sunday, May 19. The Falcons (18-7) finished one-half game ahead of Kent State (18-8) for first-place in the East Division and one-half game ahead of Eastern Michigan (19-9) for first-place overall in the MAC. BGSU has won four East Division crowns in the last five years as well as registering four 30-win seasons over the same time period.
Falcons Finish Regular Season On Five-Game Winning Streak
BGSU entered the postseason on a five-game winning streak, including a four-game sweep of Akron (May 17-19) to clinch the 2002 MAC Regular Season title. The Falcons began the streak with a come-from-behind victory at Michigan State (May 15), 7-6. During that five-game stretch, BGSU batted .409 with 12 home runs, 63 RBIs and 72 runs scored (14.4 rpg).
Kelly Hunt Named 2002 MAC Player of the Year
BGSU's Kelly Hunt became the first-ever Falcon to be named the league's Player of the Year. He finished his junior season setting three new BGSU single-season records and tying another. Hunt hit 22 homers, collected 84 RBIs and had 168 total bases for new Falcon marks. He tied Aric Christman's record of 86 hits set in 2001. The 84 RBIs tied the MAC single-season record set in 2001, as well. He finished third nationally in RBIs (1.56 per game) and sixth nationally in home runs (0.41 per game). Three times this season, the Bowling Green, Ohio, native was tabbed the MAC East Division Player of the Week. Hunt hit six home runs, including a homer in five straight contests, and drove in 15 runs in the final week of the regular season. He committed just two errors at his first-base position in 445 chances (.996 fielding pct.) for the entire season.
Loomis Drafted by Detroit Tigers
Second baseman Corey Loomis was drafted in June by Detroit in the 21st round of the MLB Amateur Draft (680 pick overall). Loomis completed his junior season at BGSU this past season, leading the Falcons with a .404 batting average while scoring 61 runs with 13 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs and 52 RBIs. He also registered a .715 slugging percentage and .472 on-base percentage He was named All-MAC First Team, ABCA Mideast Region First Team, and NCBWA All-America Third Team. Loomis helped the Falcons from his second base position turn a school-record and league-high 65 double plays. The Pemberville, Ohio, native finished his career with a .361 batting average in 140 games played for the Brown and Orange. Loomis made 49 starts this season at second base while making 38 starts at second base as a sophomore and 24 starts at third base as a freshman.
Six Falcons Named to All-MAC Teams
Bowling Green, the 2002 MAC overall regular season and East Division champion, had a league-high four players represented on the first-team. Among the Falcons earning first-team accolades were MAC POY Kelly Hunt (Jr., 1B), Corey Loomis (Jr., 2B), Nick Elrod (Sr., SS) and Neil Schmitz (So., RP). For all Falcons, it was the first time they were selected onto the All-MAC First Team. Earning second-team honors for the Falcons were starting pitcher Kyle Knoblauch (So.) and outfielder Len Elias (Sr.). Elias was a second-team All-MAC selection as a freshman and junior.
Nationally-Ranked As a Team
BGSU finished the 2002 season nationally ranked in team batting average, scoring and fielding percentage. The Falcons finished eighth in the country in scoring, averaging 8.9 runs per game. BGSU was 10th in the nation with a .335 batting average. And, the Brown and Orange was tied for 30th in the country with a .966 fielding percentage. In 2001, the Falcons led the entire country with a .360 batting average and .599 slugging percentage.
Second Half of Season Kind to BGSU
BGSU began the season with 20-straight road games and a 7-13 record, including trips to Tennessee (1-2), Evansville (0-3), Western Kentucky (1-2) and Eastern Michigan (1-3). During that span, the Falcons batted just .285 with a staff ERA of 8.13. From that point to the end of the regular season, though, the Falcons were 24-7 with five-consecutive series wins. BGSU swept four-game sets against Marshall and Akron, a three-game series vs. Eastern Kentucky, and took three of four from both Kent State and Toledo. The KSU series win was the first for BGSU in 13 years over the Flashes. Since coming off the 20-game road trip to begin the year, the Falcons batted .362 with a staff ERA of 5.03 to end the regular season.
Home, Sweet Home
Bowling Green finished the 2002 campaign 18-5 at newly renovated Warren Steller Field, including the MAC Tournament (1-2). The Falcons outscored opponents at Steller Field 252-159, averaging 10.9 runs per game and batting .375 compared to opponents' .306 avg. Of the 82 home runs hit this year by Bowling Green, 47 came at Steller Field. BGSU's all-time record at Warren Steller Field since its completion in 1963 is 279-194-7 (.589 pct.). Over the last nine years, the Falcons have a 143-56 record (.719 pct.) at home.
Head Coach Danny Schmitz
Danny Schmitz (Eastern Michigan '79) recently completed his 12th season as head coach of the Falcons. He recorded his 300th collegiate coaching victory on Feb. 17, 2002, at Tennessee with BGSU's 15-11 decision. On Saturday, May 11, Schmitz earned his 325th collegiate coaching victory with a 10-6 win at Kent State. His overall record is 331-297-4 (.527 pct.) overall and at BGSU. Bowling Green's MAC record with Schmitz as coach is 180-162-1 (.526 pct.) while the Falcons have won four MAC East Division Championships, two MAC Tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Regional twice during his tenure.
Career Records Fall at BGSU
Two senior Falcons established eight career records between them at Bowling Green this past season. SR outfielder Len Elias set six career records this year while SR shortstop Nick Elrod broke two career records. Elias became the career-leader in at-bats (720, was 664), runs scored (205, was 183), hits (258, was 251) doubles (60, was 41), runs batted in (178, was 162) and total bases (429, was 345). Elrod is now the career leader in assists (562, was 508) and games played (217, was 204). Elias is second behind Elrod in games played, appearing in 210.
