Bowling Green State University Athletics
BGSU Ends Season vs. Rival Toledo (May 16-18)
May 14, 2003 | Baseball
May 14, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio -
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Falcons End 2003 Season with Four-Game Series vs. Toledo
Bowling Green ends its regular season this weekend with a four-game series against rival Toledo (May 16-18). The first game will be played at Scott Park on Friday, May 16 (3 p.m.) while the Falcons will host the Rockets in a doubleheader on Saturday, May 17 (1 p.m.). The two teams will conclude the season at Fifth Third Field, home of the Toledo Mud Hens, on Sunday, May 18 (2 p.m.).
Bowling Green vs. Toledo
The Falcons lead the all-time series against Toledo, 96-74-0. BGSU has won 10 of the last 11 matchups since 1999 and have not lost a four-game series against the Rockets since 1991 (0-4).
Two of the Best In the Nation Will Go Head-to-Head
The top two hitters in the Mid-American Conference and two of the best in the nation will square off this weekend when BGSU meets Toledo in a four-game series. UT catcher Mitch Maier leads the MAC and is second nationally with a .457 batting avg. while BGSU first baseman Kelly Hunt is second in the MAC and fifth nationally with a .439 batting avg. Hunt also leads the MAC and is 11th nationally with 1.32 runs-batted-in per game.
Hunt Reaches 45 Home Runs and First-Place Tie
SR Kelly Hunt smacked his 45th career home run on Tuesday, May 13, at Detroit- Mercy, putting him in a first-place tie all-time at BGSU with Andy Tracy (1993-96). Hunt had a BGSU record 22 home runs last season and has knocked out nine four-baggers this season. In fact, Hunt has hit more home runs in the past two seasons (31) than he has struck out (30). The MAC record for career home runs is 49, held by three players.
Hunt Sets All-Time RBI Mark at BGSU, Second All-Time in MAC History
SR Kelly Hunt became the all-time RBI leader at BGSU on April 26, with two runs-batted-in vs. Marshall (3-2 loss). Hunt currently has 190 career RBIs, passing Len Elias (178) for the Falcon record. Only one other player in MAC history has more career RBIs than Hunt (Matt Wood, Ball State, 221). The third career mark that Hunt has in his sights is total bases, currently held by Len Elias who has 429. Hunt has 422 career total bases.
First Baseman In the "Hunt" for Another All-America Year
SR 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 is second in the MAC and fifth nationally with a .439 batting average in 41 games and 155 at-bats. Hunt leads the MAC and is T-11th nationally in RBIs per game (1.32 pg). Over the last two seasons, Hunt has tallied more home runs (31) than strikeouts (30), and is the career leader at BGSU with a .398 batting average in nearly 600 at-bats. 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 On Hot Streak
Center fielder David Barkholz led off two of three games vs. Ball State last weekend with a double and ended with a team-high seven hits and .538 batting average in three games. He has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games and has improved his batting average 25 points during that time. He is third on the team with a .340 avg. and leads BGSU in runs scored (40). with six homers and 23 RBI.
Lefty Laughlin Suffers First League Loss
RS-Soph. Keith Laughlin lost his first MAC decision of the year at Ball State on May 11, 15-1. Laughlin's record dropped to 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the league. The loss snapped six-straight wins for Laughlin, who lost his first start of the year at Frenso State on March 13 (7-3). In eight starts and 43.2 innings of work, Laughlin has a 5.56 ERA with 21 walks and 39 strikeouts.
Knoblauch Tabbed MAC West Division Co-Pitcher of the Week (May 5)
JR Kyle Knoblauch was named the MAC West Division Co-Pitcher of the Week on May 5. The right-hander struck out a season-high 11 batters vs. WMU on May 2, one away from his career high, and walked just one while giving up one run. However, Knoblauch did not get the decision and BGSU lost the game in 11 innings, 4-1. His team-low ERA dipped to 2.52 and he now has 46 strikeouts and just 10 walks in 71.1 innings of work this season.
Freshman Nolan Reimold's Hitting Streak Comes to an End
FR Nolan Reimold's career-long nine-game hitting streak came to an end in the second game of a doubleheader vs. WMU on May 3. The right fielder has hit safely in 21 of his last 26 games as of May 14 and has raised his batting average nearly 90 points during that time. He is second on the team with a .341 avg. in 123 at-bats.
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 eight RBI.
Barkholz Also Doubling as Power Hitter
Center fielder David Barkholz hit his 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 has doubled his previous season-high for homers and leads BGSU in runs scored (40) and at-bats (162), and is tied for the team lead in stolen bases (seven) and walks (19).
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.
Head Coach Danny Schmitz
Danny Schmitz (Eastern Michigan '79) is in his 13th season as head coach of the Falcons. His overall record at BGSU is 346-323-4. Bowling Green's MAC record with Schmitz as coach is 186-179-1. The Falcons have won four MAC East Division Championships, two MAC Regular-Season titles, two MAC Tournament titles, and advanced to the NCAA Regional twice during his tenure. Schmitz recorded his 300th collegiate coaching victory on Feb. 17, 2002, at Tennessee with BGSU's 15-11 decision.
