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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
TOLEDO
BGSU Splits Doubleheader vs. Toledo in Dramatic Fashion
May 17, 2003 | Baseball
May 17, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green split a doubleheader with visiting Toledo on Saturday afternoon at Warren Steller Field, dropping the first game (5-2) and winning the nightcap in the bottom of the ninth inning (7-6).
One of the highlights of the day was that senior first baseman Kelly Hunt pounded out three doubles in two games, giving him the all-time total bases mark at BGSU with 430. He passed Len Elias who accumulated 429 total bases from 1999-2002.
In game one, Toledo broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the top of the third inning off of three hits and two BGSU errors. The Falcons cut into the deficit in the bottom of the frame when Hunt hit one of his three doubles down the left-field line, scoring Dash Yost all the way from first base for a 4-1 UT lead.
Toledo added to its lead in the sixth inning with another run and again BGSU answered with a run in the bottom-half of the inning. This time, sophomore Kevin Longstreth singled up the middle to score Jimmy Lipari from second base. However, the Falcons could get no closer.
Lefty Keith Laughlin (6-3) suffered his second loss in as many starts, lasting just two innings and allowing four runs (two earned). He allowed four hits, one walk and no strikeouts. UT pitcher Brian Kovacs got the win (2-4) while Kurt Woeste got the save (4). Toledo held the advantage in the hit department, 7-6, with Barkholz and Longstreth the only Falcons with multiple hits.
In game two, Toledo took a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth inning thanks to a solo home run by J.D. Foust. Freshman Tyler Wasserman began the bottom of the ninth inning by being hit by a pitch, and then was sacrificed over via a bunt by pinch-hitter Spencer Schmitz. Dash Yost entered the game as a pinch-runner for Wasserman at second base and came home on a double to right-center field by David Barkholz, knotting the game at 6-6. The very next batter, Jeff Warnock, singled to right field and Barkholz was able to beat the throw from Jay Juras to home plate, giving the Falcons a 7-6 victory in their final home game of the year.
BGSU had jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning with five hits and one Toledo error. Kelly Hunt, Nolan Reimold, Jimmy Lipari, and Tyler Wasserman all had RBI hits in the inning. Toledo scored two in the top of the third inning and added another three runs in the seventh inning to tie the game up at 5-5. BGSU plated a run in the third inning.
Despite getting a no-decision, freshman starter Tyler Johnson pitched well. He struck out a career-high seven batters in six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks. Reliever Neil Schmitz (1-5) pitched the final three innings of the game to pick up his first win of the season. UT's Shawn Hurst (1-4) suffered the loss.
Hunt was 2-for-4 in the game with two doubles. Barkholz and Reimold also registered two hits as both teams finished with 11 hits in the game.
The two teams finish the four-game series and the 2003 season on Sunday, May 18, at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. and tickets are still available.
BGSU Notes....
* The Falcons had scored just three runs in the ninth inning ALL SEASON before plating two crucial runs in the ninth inning vs. Toledo in the second game on Saturday to post a 7-6 victory. The previous three runs came on a pinch-hit, three-run homer by Nate Henschen on April 27 vs. Marshall.
* David Barkholz extended his hitting streak to a season-high eight games by going 4-for-9 on Saturday vs. Toledo. He has raised his batting average 35 points during that stretch to a season-high .347.
* Kelly Hunt pushed his career-RBI total to 193 with two runs-batted-in on Saturday,making him second all-time in MAC history. Matt Wood of Ball State is the all-time leader with 221 RBI.
* Kelly Hunt's season batting average is .440 in 166 at-bats. There are only three Falcons who have ever hit over .440 in a season, with the last one coming in 1989 (Greg Lashuk, .441, 77 at-bats). The all-time highest batting average in a season at BGSU was in 1956 by Dick Kenny (.448 avg., 58 at-bats).
* Kelly Hunt's career batting average is .399 in 604 at-bats (241 hits). That puts him in a tie for sixth place all-time in MAC history.
* Hunt is one home run away from becoming the all-time home run leader at BGSU. He is currently tied with Andy Tracy (1993-96) with 45.
