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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
VALPARAISO
Gouge, Baca Help Falcons Past Valpo, 5-1
April 04, 2005 | Softball
April 4, 2005
VALPARAISO, Ind. - Freshman Emily Gouge threw a complete-game five-hitter, and sophomore Jeanine Baca went 4-for-4 to pace a 10-hit attack as the Bowling Green State University softball team posted a 5-1 win over Valparaiso University Monday afternoon (April 4). The non-conference game was held at the Valparaiso Softball Field.
Freshman Allison Vallas drove in three runs to help the Falcons improve to 13-18 on the year. The host Crusaders drop to 1-23.
 Sophomore Jeanine Baca had a career high four hits, and tied the school record with two triples  |
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The Falcons played `small ball' to mount a rally in the third. With one out, sophomore Kari Steigerwald beat out a bunt for a single. Then, sophomore Megan McPherson reached on a Valpo throwing error, with the runners taking second and third. Soph Angie Ortiz bunted on a squeeze attempt, but Steigerwald was out on a play at the plate. However, Baca came through with an RBI single to plate McPherson with the game's first run.
BG added to the lead, batting around in the sixth inning. Baca led off with her third hit of the game, a single to right off Brittany Atteberry. Junior Gina Rango followed with a single to left, and the runners executed a double steal with Vallas at the plate. On the very next pitch, Vallas singled up the middle to score both runners, with Vallas taking second base on the throw home.
Vallas took third base on Zirkle's fly ball to the right side, and scored on a pinch-hit single by senior Kristen Anderson. Another pinch-hitter, Natalie Armintrout, singled to increase her hitting streak to five games before reliever Andrea Zappia.
In the seventh, the Falcons scored again, as Baca led off with a triple and came home on a sacrifice fly by Vallas.
In the bottom of the inning, though, the Crusaders mounted a threat. Gouge hit pinch-hitter Allison Whitesell with a two-out pitch, before Stacy Adamski lined a pitch over Baca's head in center for a double. Maggie Seidel followed with a single up the middle to spoil Gouge's shutout bid. But, the freshman responded by getting leadoff hitter Megan Carroll to foul out to catcher Brecken Libbe to end the game.
Gouge scattered five hits to even her record at 2-2. She walked one batter and had five strikeouts, throwing 68 strikes among her 90 pitches.
Halstead, the first of three Valpo pitchers, took the loss despite allowing only an unearned run in three and two-thirds innings. Halstead walked two batters in the game.
Atteberry allowed three runs and three hits in an inning and a third, while Zappia gave up a run, a walk and four hits in two innings. BGSU hitters did not strike out in the game.
Baca, as mentioned, had four hits, including a pair of triples. She scored two runs and drove in one. Six other Falcons had one hit apiece, including Rango, who scored a run and stole two bases to increase her team-leading total to 11.
Seidel had two of the Crusaders' five hits on the afternoon.
The Falcons return home for a Wednesday (April 6) doubleheader against Miami. The first game of the Mid-American Conference twinbill is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. at the BGSU Softball Field.
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