Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MIAMI (OH)
Falcons Fall to Miami, 2-0, in MAC Tournament Opener
May 11, 2005 | Softball
May 11, 2005
AKRON, Ohio - Miami University plated two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 2-0 victory over the Bowling Green State University softball team Wednesday (May 11). The game, the opening contest of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, was held at Firestone Stadium.
With the win, third-seeded MU improves to 31-24 on the season, while dropping the sixth-seeded Falcons to 27-29.
The loss puts the Falcons into an elimination game on Thursday morning (May 12). BGSU will face seventh-seeded Eastern Michigan in that game, as the Eagles fell to Central Michigan by a 4-1 score in Wednesday's second contest.
In the bottom of the first, the RedHawks got an early baserunner, as Halle Popson beat out a bunt. The Falcons got a force play on Jackie Poggendorf's bunt try, cutting down Popson at second. Then, BG catcher Abby Habicht gunned down Poggendorf attempting to steal. On the very next pitch, Christine Bills swung and missed on a 3-2 count, for an apparent strikeout. But, the base umpire called an illegal pitch on junior Liz Vrabel, giving the RedHawks a two-out baserunner.
Miami put a runner in scoring position after Bianca Paz reached on a bloop single just inside the line in shallow leftfield, advancing Bills to second. But, Vrabel battled back to strike out Kristen Hays.
Beginning with that Hays strikeout, Vrabel retired 13 consecutive batters over the next four-plus innings. Meanwhile, the Falcons had a baserunner in each of the first five frames, but could not score.
Freshman Allison Vallas worked MU starter Courtney Salmon for a two-out walk in the opening inning, and sophomore Jeanine Baca was hit by a pitch to begin the second. Soph Megan McPherson reached on an infield error in the third frame, while junior Gina Rango got BG's first hit of the day to lead off the fourth. McPherson reached base for the second time in as many at-bats, with a two-out single in the fifth. But, in each case, BG could not get a runner past second base.
Vrabel's streak of 13 batters retired came to an abrupt end when Breanna Robinson homered to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. The homer to left came just one pitch after a dropped foul ball during Robinson's at-bat.
The next hitter, Popson, beat out a chopper for an infield single. Poggendorf bunted, and both RedHawks were safe as Popson reached second ahead of the BG throw. Bills moved the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, before Paz plated Popson with a sacrifice fly down the right-field line. BG rightfielder Vallas caught the ball and fired a strike to the plate, but Popson got a foot in under the tag attempt. Vrabel got Hays to fly out, but the damage had been done.
Salmon set down the Falcons in the seventh, finishing off a complete-game two-hitter, and the RedHawks had the win. Miami will play CMU in Thursday's third game, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Salmon walked one batter and struck out four in improving her record to 13-10 on the year.
As has been the case on numerous occasions this year, a Falcon pitcher threw well enough to win, but instead was saddled with a loss. Vrabel allowed no earned runs and four hits in her complete-game setback, walking one batter and striking out five.
At the plate, Popson had two hits and scored a run for the RedHawks. McPherson and Rango had the only hits for the Brown and Orange.
"Liz Vrabel was fantastic for us today," said BGSU head coach Leigh Ross-Shaw. "She showed why she is the MAC Pitcher of the Year. Every time Liz throws, she gives us a chance to win.
"But, we have got to score a run. We can't expect to win a game if we can't score. We rely so much on our pitching and defense, and that is what has been carrying us.
"Once again, we have our backs against the well. We face a do-or-die situation, and we need to respond like we did in last year's tournament."
The Falcons will meet EMU in an 11:00 a.m. start on Thursday.
NOTES
