Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
GOERGIA STATE
Rango, Falcons Explode For 12-0 Win Over Georgia State
March 20, 2004 | Softball
March 20, 2004
MARIETTA, Ga. - The Bowling Green State University softball team scored early and often Saturday afternoon (March 20), as the Falcons posted a 12-0 victory over Georgia State University. The game, called after five innings due to the run rule, was part of the Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech.
The Falcons, after going 17 games without a shutout win to begin the season, now have posted three consecutive shutouts. BG now has two 'run-rule' wins on the season, with the first coming earlier Saturday, an 8-0 victory over Eastern Illinois.
BGSU got things started early, scoring twice in the first inning off Panther starter Alexandrea Pratt. Freshman Jeanine Baca led off the game with a single, then moved to second on sophomore Gina Rango's single with one out. Senior Jenifer Kernahan followed with a run-scoring single, giving the Falcons the lead for good. Then, junior Kristen Anderson reached on a fielder's' choice, with Kernahan taking second and Rango scoring on an error by the GSU shortstop.
In the second inning, Rango was again heavily involved in the scoring. Freshman Kari Steigerwald singled to start the inning, and Baca had a one-out hit. Sophomore Lindsay Heimrich drew a walk to load the bases for Rango, who unloaded them in a hurry, ripping a grand slam to centerfield.
BGSU had six hits in the four-run third inning. With one out, Melissa Wagner singled and took second on Steigerwald's second hit of the day. Steigerwald was erased on a fielder's choice for the second out, but the next four Falcons all would get hits.
Baca had an RBI single, and Heimrich doubled to plate both Baca and pinch-runner Marla Murphy. Then, Rango singled to plate Heimrich with BG's tenth run of the contest.
The Falcons got two more hits, but no runs, in the fourth. But, the Brown and Orange got back on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. Redshirt freshman Natalie Armintrout led off with a pinch-hit single, the first hit of her BG career. Armintrout was forced out on Heimrich's fielder's choice, but Rango followed with a double to pick up her sixth RBI of the game. After a Kernahan sacrifice bune advanced Rango to third, freshman Maggie Tudor beat out an infield single as Rango scored the game's final run.
The Brown and Orange pounded out 18 hits in the five-inning game. Ten different Falcon players had at least one hit, with five picking up multiple-hit contests. Rango was a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs scored and six batted in, giving her seven hits in eight at-bats on the day, while Baca was 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Heimrich also scored three runs, and both Steigerwald and Tudor had 2-for-2 games. Kernahan had two hits in three at-bats.
Meanwhile, senior Jody Johnson shut down the Panthers, allowing only two hits in her complete-game shutout win. She issued two walks and struck out eight.
The Falcons have advanced to bracket play, and are the top seed in the 25-team tournament. BG is next in action on Sunday morning (March 21) vs. North Carolina State, a 3-0 winner over Coastal Carolina in the first round of bracket play Saturday night. The semifinals and championship are scheduled for later Sunday.
