Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Falcons Down Eastern Michigan, 5-1
May 02, 2003 | Softball
May 2, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University softball team began the final weekend of the regular season on a successful note, posting a 5-1 win over Eastern Michigan University Friday afternoon (May 2). The Mid-American Conference game was held at the BGSU Softball Field.
With the victory, the Falcons improve to 23-24-1 overall and 13-9 in MAC play, and took sole possession of the sixth and final conference tournament berth for the time being. The Eagles drop to 6-36 and 4-15, respectively.
The visitors threatened to take an early lead, loading the bases against freshman Liz Vrabel with just one out in the second inning. An error, a fielder's choice and an infield single loaded the bases. The single, by Rebecca Florence, was ticketed for the outfield before Falcon senior shortstop Libby Voshell made a diving stop. She deflected the ball toward second base, keeping it from going into the outfield and forcing EMU's Carolyn Grutza to hold at third.
Ultimately, Voshell's play likely saved a run. Vrabel struck out the next batter, Genny Hann, for the second out, then retired Deanna Wisnieski on a foul pop to first base, ending the inning.
The Falcons broke on top with a pair of third-inning runs off Eastern hurler Nikki Denman. Redshirt sophomore Marla Murphy beat out a grounder to shortstop for an infield hit, her first of two hits in the game.
Senior Kandice Machain hit into a fielder's choice, with Murphy retired at second. Then, freshman Lindsay Heimrich reached on an error by the EMU shortstop, putting runners at first and second. Both Machain and Heimrich advanced a base on a Voshell grounder to the right side of the infield, before freshman Gina Rango laced a two-run single to centerfield, giving BG the lead for good.
The Eagles cut the lead in half with an unearned run in the fourth. Katie Grens drew a one-out walk, took second on a grounder, and scored when Florence's fly ball to left-center was dropped for an error.
The Falcons tacked on some insurance in the fifth inning, scoring three times. Murphy again got the inning started, beating out a bunt for a leadoff single. Then, Machain hit a smash off EMU third baseman Liz Flack for a hit, with Murphy taking second. Heimrich's sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third, and Voshell followed with a single to plate Murphy.
The next batter, Rango, was safe on a fielder's choice after grounding a ball back to Denman. On the play, Machain broke for home, then headed back toward third, and Denman's throw was not in time, loading the bases.
Junior Jenifer Kernahan drew a walk to force home a run, and senior Crystal Wilson then hit a fly ball that dropped in front of EMU centerfielder Hann for a single, scoring Voshell with the game's final run.
Eastern got a baserunner in the seventh on Florence's one-out single. But, catcher Kernahan picked her off first for the second out, and Vrabel struck out Hann to end the game.
Vrabel improved to 15-9 with the complete-game win. She allowed just an unearned run and five hits in the game, walking one batter and striking out eight.
Denman took the loss, falling to 4-14 on the season. She allowed nine hits and five runs (three earned) in her six innings, walking one batter and recording three strikeouts.
Murphy and sophomore Stephanie Finkel each went 2-for-3 in the game to pace the Falcons' nine-hit attack. Machain scored two runs, while Rango had a pair of runs batted in.
For the Eagles, Florence had the lone two-hit game. Neither team had an extra-base hit in the game.
The Falcons and Eagles will return to the BGSU Softball Field to close the regular season with a Saturday (May 3) doubleheader, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The five fourth-year members of the BGSU program -- Machain, Voshell, Wilson, McKenna Houle and Liz Tuza -- will be recognized in "Senior Day" festivities between games.
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