Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
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WESTERN MICHIGAN
Broncos Blank BGSU, 3-0, in MAC Tournament Opener
May 13, 2004 | Softball
May 13, 2004
AKRON, Ohio - For the Bowling Green State University softball team, it was a case of missed opportunities, as Western Michigan University recorded a 3-0 win over the Falcons Thursday (May 13). The game, the opener of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, was held at Firestone Stadium.
With the win, the Broncos, seeded third for the six-team, double-elimination tournament, improve to 31-24 on the season, and advance to play the second seed, Kent State University, Thursday evening. The Falcons, the tourney's sixth seed, fall to 29-28 on the year, and will play on Friday (May 14) in an elimination game.
The Broncos got on the board on three consecutive singles against senior Jody Johnson in the bottom of the second. Kristi Strange hit a one-out single up the middle, and a well-executed bunt by Katie Niemi allowed pinch-runner Dayna Crawford to advance all the way to third. Then, Stephanie Scheumann's seeing-eye grounder made it through the left side of the Falcon infield to plate Crawford.
In the third inning, the Falcons put a pair of runners on base, but WMU starter Laura Stewart worked out of the jam. Freshman Kari Steigerwald led off by working Stewart for a walk, but was erased on a fielder's choice bunt by classmate Megan McPherson. One out later, another freshman, Emmy Ramsey, laid down a nifty bunt toward third that went for a single, with McPherson advancing all the way to third base when no Bronco covered the bag. But, Stewart was able to get an inning-ending popup.
In the fifth, the Brown and Orange again put a few runners on base. Sophomore Abby Habicht led off with a single to center, and Steigerwald moved pinch-runner to second with a sac bunt. Freshman Jeanine Baca drew a two-out walk, but Stewart was able to get a strikeout of Stephanie Finkel to end the threat.
BGSU again got the leadoff runner aboard in the sixth, as Heimrich hit a chopper that bounced over Stewart's head and into centerfield. Sophomore Gina Rango then worked Stewart for a walk, putting runners at first and second. Junior Kristen Anderson's bunt toward the pitcher was good for a sac bunt, moving Heimrich to third and Rango to second with one down.
Stewart, however, needed only two pitches to get out of the inning, getting senior Jenifer Kernahan on a popup and Habicht on a grounder, both to third base.
The Broncos loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth, as Mary McCloskey singled, Kelly Barnett walked and Jaymie Voss reached on an infield error. Johnson struck out Amy Fleming for the third time, then got MAC Freshman of the Year Strange to pop up to third base for the second out. But, Niemi hit a soft grounder back to the circle. Johnson lunged and got a glove on it, but deflected the ball toward the right side. Second baseman McPherson had to change direction to field the slow-moving ball, and Niemi was able to beat her throw to first. McCloskey scored, and pinch-runner Corey Andrzejewski also scored on the play, beating first baseman Heimrich's throw to the plate. The two unearned runs gave WMU an insurmountable three-run lead.
The Falcons went down in the seventh, as Baca reached on a two-out single, but was stranded there.
Johnson threw a complete-game five-hitter for the third consecutive game, allowing only one earned run. The senior walked one batter and struck out four, but dropped to 11-9 on the year.
For the Broncos, Stewart scattered six hits en route to the win, moving to 22-12. She issued three walks and struck out five batters.
Heimrich had two hits, including a double, to lead the Falcons, while Niemi had a 2-for-3 performance for the Broncos.
The Falcons outhit Western Michigan by a 6-5 count in the game. BGSU left eight runners on base in the game to the Broncos' four.
The Falcons will play in an elimination-round game on Friday, facing either Miami, Ohio or Central Michigan in the second game of the day. That contest is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m.
