Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Host Four-Game Series vs. Marshall This Weekend
April 24, 2003 | Baseball
April 24, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio -
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BGSU Hosts Marshall for MAC Showdown (April 25-27)
Bowling Green hosts Marshall University this weekend at Warren Steller Field for a four-game MAC series. The Falcons enter the series in sixth-place out of seven teams in the MAC West Division while the Thundering Herd are fifth out of six in the MAC East Division. The Falcons have won six-straight vs. Marshall and have swept the season series four of the last five seasons. BGSU is 17-2 against Marshall over the past five years and hold a 43-10-0 all-time series lead.
Hunt On Verge of Record-Breaking Weekend
SR Kelly Hunt is one RBI away from tying all-time RBI leader Len Elias for the career record at BGSU. Elias tallied 178 RBI from 1999-2002 while Hunt currently has 177 runs-batted-in. The MAC record for RBIs in a career is 221 by Matt Wood of Ball State (1998-2001). The first baseman is also four home runs away from the BGSU record for career homers, held by Andy Tracy (45, 1993-96). The MAC record for career home runs is 49 set by three individuals. The third career mark that Hunt has in his sights is total bases, currently held by Len Elias who has 429. Hunt has 385 career total bases.
Hunt Drives In Eight in 17-8 Victory Over IPFW
SR Kelly Hunt drove in a career-high and school record-tying eight runs on April 15 vs. IPFW, including a school-record seven RBI in the fifth inning alone. Hunt used a grand slam and a three-run homer for his seven runs-batted-in during the fifth and chipped in a sacrifice fly in the first inning for his eighth RBI.
Hunt's Hitting Streak Comes to An End at 18 Games
Kelly Hunt's career-long hitting streak came to an end in game one of a doubleheader at Northern Illinois on April 20 as he finished 0-for-3. Hunt's hitting streak came to an end at 18 games. BGSU's record for consecutive games with a hit is 25 set by Mike Combs in 1995. Hunt has hit safely in 25 of 28 games this season.
First Baseman In the "Hunt" for Another All-America Year
Senior Kelly Hunt, a Third-Team Collegiate Baseball All-America in 2002, is making a bid to be a two-time all-America this season. Hunt leads the MAC and is 14th nationally with a .432 batting average in 28 games and 111 at-bats. Hunt is third in the MAC in RBIs and seventh nationally with 1.46 RBIs per game. He has 48 hits, eight doubles, one triple and five home runs while striking out just 10 times. In 2002, Hunt finished third in the country in RBIs per game (1.58 pg) and sixth in home runs per game (0.41).
Barkholz Also Doubling as Power Hitter
Center fielder David Barkholz hit his team-leading sixth home run on April 20 in the first game of a doubleheader at NIU. Of the junior's six home runs this season, five have been of the solo variety (one two-run homer) with a lead-off homer on April 12 at Central Michigan. Barkholz also leads BGSU in runs scored (29), walks (13) and stolen bases (five).
Falcons Plate 16 Runs With Two Outs Last Weekend
BGSU plated 20 runs in a four-game series at NIU last weekend. Sixteen of the 20 runs came with two outs for the Falcons.
Lefty Laughlin Feelin' the Love
RS-sophomore Keith Laughlin struck out seven batters while picking up BGSU's lone win last weekend at Northern Illinois (April 19), 10-4. The left-hander leads the Falcon pitching staff with an overall record of 4-1 in five starts and a league mark of 3-0 in three starts.
Oe"strike" Strikes Out Career-High In Just Four Innings
SO right-hander Tom Oestrike struck out a career-high seven batters in just four innings against Wright State on April 16. Oestrike had a no-hitter going through four innings but was pulled due to his pitch count. He walked none, as well.
Falcons Flexing Muscles On the Mound in 2003
BGSU has been among the nation's leaders in offensive output over the past several years, but this season it is the pitching that is turning heads. The Falcons lead the Mid-American Conference with a staff ERA of 4.11 in 232.1 innings of work in 2003. Seven of the 11 pitchers on the staff have an ERA of below 5.00.
Falcon Hurler Stingy In Earned Runs Allowed
Kyle Knoblauch has given up just 16 earned runs (20 overall) in 54.1 innings of work this season. His ERA of 2.65 is fourth-lowest in the Mid-American Conference. He has walked just six batters while striking out 26, and has a league-low 0.99 walks per nine innings pitched.
Knoblauch Has Earned Run Streak Halted at 31.2 Innings
RHP Kyle Knoblauch had his consecutive-inning streak for not allowing an earned run halted at 31.2 innings on March 30 at Eastern Michigan. Knoblauch had not given up an earned run dating back to the seventh inning of BGSU's MAC Tournament quarterfinal game in 2002. He had not allowed an earned run in 28.2 innings of work in 2003 before giving up a two-out, RBI-single to EMU's Ryan Goleski in the sixth inning on March 30.
