Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Stephen F. Austin
Falcons Top Stephen F. Austin, 4-3
March 07, 2004 | Softball
March 7, 2004
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Bowling Green State University softball team scored early and somewhat often Sunday morning (March 7), posting a 4-3 win over Stephen F. Austin State University in the Bash by the Bay.
With the win, the Falcons improve to 4-4 on the season, while dropping the Ladyjacks to 8-13. BGSU bounced back after absorbing a pair of shutout losses on Saturday.
BGSU got on the board early Sunday, scoring a pair of first-inning runs. Sophomore Lindsay Heimrich began the game with a single, and took second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Megan McPherson. One out later, Heimrich took third base on a passed ball, before coming in to score on a single by Gina Rango. The next batter, freshman Jeanine Baca, followed with a double to plate Rango.
In the third, the Falcons doubled the lead with two more runs. Heimrich again started the inning by reaching base, drawing a walk off SFA starter Nicole Carter. McPherson singled, and junior Kristen Anderson then reached on a fielder's choice, with Heimrich erased at third.
Rango then laced a double to left-center to score both McPherson and Anderson and chase Carter. Crissy Autry came on in relief, and gave up a single to Baca before retiring the side.
The Ladyjacks broke through with a run in the bottom of the third. Jaime Brown led off with a double off Falcon sophomore Liz Vrabel, and came around to score on back-to-back groundouts.
The game remained 4-1 until the sixth inning. Vrabel, who had allowed only two hits to that point, allowed four consecutive hits, including an RBI double by Crista Hargrove to score Ragen Rutherford. Following Hargrove's hit, pinch-hitter Heather Hebert singled, but Hargrove was thrown out trying to score. Another hit put runners at first and second, but Vrabel got a frounder to third base for the third out of the inning.
The Falcons were not out of the woods yet, however. Lee Lara singled to lead off the seventh inning, but Falcon catcher Jenifer Kernahan gunned down pinch-runner Danielle Branch attempting to steal second. The next hitter, Brown, reached on an error, and Carrie Woydziak followed with a single, and the runners advanced to second and third on the throw. Vrabel got Kristen Exline to ground out to shortstop, but Brown scored and Woydziak advanced to third on the play. WIth the tying run only 60 feet away, Vrabel got Rutherford to hit a fly ball to center for the game-ending out.
SFA held an 8-7 advantage in hits, with Chelsea Lundberg the lone Ladyjack with two hits.
Rango and Baca each went 2-for-3 for the Falcons, with Rango driving in three of BG's four runs in the game
Vrabel went all the way for the Brown and Orange, allowing eight hits and three runs (two earned) to pick up the win. Vrabel, now 3-2 on the year, struck out one batter and did not issue a walk.
Carter took the loss for SFA, allowing five hits and all four runs in two-and-a-third innings of work. Autry allowed only two hits in four-and-two-thirds innings of shutout ball, striking out five Falcons.
BGSU was to return to Islander Field for two games later Sunday.
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