Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
UAB
Falcons Struggle At The Plate, Drop A Pair of 1-0 Games
March 14, 2004 | Softball
March 14, 2004
Final Stats -- UAB game
Final Stats -- East Carolina game
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Bowling Green State University softball team's struggles at the plate continued, as the Falcons came out on the short end of a pair of 1-0 decisions Sunday (March 14). The Brown and Orange, now 6-10 on the season, lost to UAB and East Carolina to close play at the Cougar Classic, hosted by the College of Charleston.
In the opening game, UAB pushed a fourth-inning runner across the plate against sophomore Liz Vrabel, which proved to be the game winner. The Falcons, held to just a bunt single over the first three innings, had threatened in the top of the fourth.
With one out, sophomore Gina Rango singled, and took second when a grounder by senior Jenifer Kernahan was misplayed by Blazer shortstop Dusti Roberts for an error. Then, sophomore Lindsay Heimrich singled to right, but Rango was thrown out trying to score. Junior Kristen Anderson reached on another error by Roberts to load the bases, but UAB hurler Tara Higashino got a grounder to get out of the inning.
Then, in the bottom of the fourth, a two-out single by Carrie Christophel was followed by a run-scoring double from the bat of Roberts.
Higashino allowed only a Jeanine Baca single over the final three innings en route to the win. She scattered four hits, striking out two without issuing a walk. Carrie Christophel led the Blazers at the plate, with two hits and the game's lone run.
Vrabel was the hard-luck loser, surrendering just a run on seven hits. She walked one batter and fanned three. Baca, Rango, Heimrich and Stephanie Finkel had the BGSU hits.
In the second game, East Carolina had only three hits against Vrabel, but scored a run in the sixth inning to pick up the win. The Falcons had just three hits as well.
In the second inning, Heimrich had a one-out single and took second on a groundout, but was stranded there. That would be the lone Falcon runner to advance past first base until the final frame.
Vrabel allowed a two-out single in the bottom of the second inning, and an infield hit in the third, but got out of trouble without any damage in each frame. In the fourth, the Pirates got a runner as far as third, on a walk, stolen base and a fly ball, but Vrabel got another fly-ball out to end that inning.
In the sixth frame, ECU's Lacassa Hill drew a one-out walk and stole second. Two batters later, Kate Manuse singled to centerfield to plate Hill. BGSU had one more chance, however, and nearly tied the contest in the seventh.
Heimrich led off by reaching on an error. Anderson bunted her to second, and freshman Ashley Zirkle then singled to right-center. But, Heimrich was thrown out at the plate, and ECU pitcher Maggie Lingo got a game-ending grounder to third base.
Vrabel took her second loss of the day, despite allowing only the one run and three hits. She walked two hitters and struck out five. At the plate, the Falcons got hits from Kernahan, Rango and Zirkle.
Lingo picked up the win for the Pirates with a complete-game three-hit shutout, walking two batters and fanning one.
The Falcons will head south again next weekend, taking part in the Buzz Classic in Marietta, Ga., from Friday through Sunday (March 19-21). BGSU is scheduled to play single games against North Carolina State, Tulsa, Eastern Illinois and Georgia State before the championship rounds begin at that tournament, hosted by Georgia Tech.
