Bowling Green State University
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WESTERN MICHIGAN
BGSU Drops Series Finale to WMU, 5-2
May 04, 2003 | Baseball
May 4, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Western Michigan used a five-run third inning to defeat Bowling Green on Sunday afternoon at Warren Steller Field, 5-2. Falcon Kelly Hunt hit a two-run homer in the eighth to draw the home team to within three, but BGSU could get no closer.
WMU's Steve Horn led off the third inning with a walk issued by starter Tom Oestrike. R.C. Dickerson then reached on a fielding error by Oestrike. A fielder's choice retired Horn at third base, but Mark Abro drove in the first run with a single, then Tom Fabrizio singled in another run for a 2-0 WMU lead. Chad Tarpley then hit a three-run home run to left field to give the Broncos a 5-0 advantage.
BGSU's Burke Badenhop then entered the game in relief of Oestrike, who allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits, four walks and one strikeout. Badenhop pitched well for the Falcons, lasting the final six and one-third innings. He allowed no runs on just three hits with two walks and four strikeouts to keep the Falcons within striking distance.
However, WMU's Keith Perez kept the Falcons off balance. The right-hander scattered six hits in eight and one-third innings while walking four and striking out eight Falcon batters.
BGSU began a rally in the eighth, though, when freshman Josh Baughman led off with a single to center field and Hunt followed with his seventh homer of the season to right field, bringing the Falcons to within three, 5-2. Hunt's home run was the 43rd of his career, moving him to within two of BGSU all-time leader Andy Tracy (45).
The Falcons got runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the ninth but could not plate another run.
Oestrike (1-3) suffered the loss while Perez (5-3) earned the win and Zach Straayer the save. Five different Falcons totalled BGSU's six hits, including Bobby Majer who had two base hits. WMU finished with seven hits.
BGSU drops to 14-23 overall and 7-13 in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons go on the road next weekend when they travel to Muncie, Ind. to play Ball State (May 9-11). BGSU has just eight league games left, including a four-game series at Ball State and a four-game set vs. rival Toledo (May 16-18).
