Bowling Green State University
BUFFALO
Falcons Defeat Buffalo, 15-4, for Second MAC Win
March 23, 2003 | Baseball
March 23, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green's bats woke up from a two-week slumber to plate 15 runs off 14 hits against visiting Buffalo on Sunday afternoon, registering a 15-4 victory at Warren Steller Field.
The Falcons had scored just eight runs in its previous six games and were 1-5 during that stretch. But, BGSU got hits from nine different players on Sunday to collect its second win in a row, and second in Mid-American Conference play.
"It's just what the doctor ordered," said BGSU coach Danny Schmitz. "We got the three phases put together today; hitting, pitching and defense"
BGSU (3-7) plated its first two runs in the bottom of the second inning. The first run came when Jeff Warnock reached on a single then scored from second base off of a throwing error by the Buffalo pitcher to first base. Jimmy Lipari later flew out to center field to score Nate Henschen for the 2-0 lead.
Buffalo, however, plated two runs in the top of the third inning to tie the score, 2-2. The Falcons failed to score in the third inning before taking the lead in the fourth frame and breaking things open in the fifth inning with five more runs.
Freshman Bobby Majer doubled to right field to plate two runs in the fourth inning and then scored on a single by Lipari. Senior Kelly Hunt collected his second homer of the season with a two-run shot as part of the five-run fifth inning, while junior Spencer Schmitz added a bases-loaded single to drive home two more runs in the frame.
Both Majer and Hunt, who also hit a two-run double, drove in four runs for the Falcons, while Lipari had three RBIs. Lipari had a game-high three hits in four at-bats.
On the mound, the Falcons used four different pitchers. Sophomore Tyler Saneholtz started the game, but lasted four and one-third innings, striking out four and walking four while giving up three runs (two earned). Sophomore Burke Badenhop (1-1) came on in relief with one out and two on in the top of the fifth inning. He went two and two-third innings and have up just one unearned run with three strikeouts and one walk. Badenhop earned his first victory of the season. Pitching an inning apiece were freshman Tyler Johnson and senior Doug Flere.
BGSU's 15 runs and 14 hits were the most since a 23-7 victory over Penn on March 8 (25 hits). Meanwhile, the Falcons' earned run average dropped to 4.39 as a staff.
Bowling Green will play two midweek, non-conference games at Warren Steller Field this Tuesday against Michigan State and Wednesday against Dayton. Both games are scheduled for 2 p.m. starts. The Falcons have a key, four-game series with MAC West Division rival EasternMichigan next weekend (March 28-30).
