Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Take to the Road for Key MAC Series
May 08, 2003 | Baseball
May 8, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio -
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Falcons Take to the Road for Key Series at Ball State (May 9-11)
Bowling Green travels to Ball State this weekend (May 9-11) for a key four-game league series against the Cardinals. The Falcons (7-13) sit four games back of BSU (11-9) for fourth place in the MAC West Division with eight league games to be played. The top two teams from each division advance to the MAC tournament with the next-best two teams also getting a bid. If the tournament began this week, the top four teams from the West Division would get a bid.
Hunt Becomes All-Time RBI Leader
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 183 career RBIs, passing Len Elias (178) for the Falcon record and moving him into third place all-time in MAC history. The MAC is 221 by Matt Wood of Ball State (1998-2001). Hunt is also two 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 406 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 third in the MAC and 13th nationally with a .429 batting average in 37 games and 140 at-bats. Hunt leads the MAC and is 23rd nationally in RBIs per game (1.27 pg). Over the last two seasons, Hunt has tallied as many home runs (29) as strikeouts (29), and is the career leader at BGSU with a .394 batting average. In 2002, Hunt finished third in the country in RBIs per game (1.58 pg) and sixth in home runs per game (0.41).
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.
Lefty Laughlin Feelin' the Love
RS-Soph. Keith Laughlin improved his league record to 5-0 with a 4-2 win over WMU on May 3 in a seven-inning contest. Laughlin has won his last six starts to improve his overall record to 6-1 with a 4.36 ERA in 43.1 innings of work. He has allowed just eight extra-base hits, lowest among Falcon starters. The lefty suffered his only loss of the season at Fresno State on March 13 (7-3). The BGSU offense has helped Laughin, averaging 6.8 runs per win.
Freshman Nolan Reimold's Hitting Streak Comes to an End
FR Nolan Reimold 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 18 of his last 22 games and has raised his batting average nearly 90 points during that time. He is second on the team with a .339 avg. in 109 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.
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 ended 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 32 of 37 games this season and currently is on a seven-game hitting streak.
Barkholz Also Doubling as Power Hitter
Centerfielder 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 (34) and at-bats (144), and is tied for the team lead in stolen bases (seven) and walks (18).
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 4.41 in 310.1 innings of work in 2003. The last time BGSU finished with a staff ERA of below 5.00 was in 1999 (4.55 ERA).
Falcon Hurler Stingy In Earned Runs Allowed
Kyle Knoblauch has given up just 20 earned runs (25 overall) in 71.1 innings of work this season. His ERA of 2.52 is second-lowest in the Mid-American Conference. He has walked just 10 batters while striking out 46, and is second in the league with 1.26 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. Knoblauch has a team-low ERA of 2.76 in 62.0 innings pitched while walking just nine with 35 strikeouts.
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 345-320-4. Bowling Green's MAC record with Schmitz as coach is 186-176-1. 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.
