Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
BELMONT
BGSU Beats Belmont Bruins, 4-2; Takes Tournament Title
February 26, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 26, 2006
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Bowling Green State University softball team completed an undefeated weekend with a 4-2 victory over Belmont late Sunday afternoon (Feb. 26). The game, the Falcons' final contest in the Panera Bread Challenge, was held at Hargraves Field in Chattanooga, Tenn.
With the victory, the Falcons improve to a perfect 6-0, both in the tournament and on the weekend. BGSU has shattered the school record for best start to a season. The Falcons were the lone undefeated team in the three-day, eight-team tournament.
Sophomore Emily Gouge picked up the victory for the Falcons, narrowly missing a complete-game shutout. Gouge held the Bruins scoreless until surrendering a two-out, two-strike, two-run hit in the seventh. She struck out a career-high 11 batters in the game. Belmont had scored 11 runs in an 11-10 win over the MAC's Miami in the team's first Sunday game.
Sophomore Allison Vallas had a two-run double to aid the Falcons' offensive cause.
The Falcons got on the board quickly, with a run in the top of the first inning. Junior Megan McPherson, who was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game, began the contest by singling and stealing second. The next batter, senior Lindsay Heimrich, grounded out, but McPherson scored all the way from second on the play, and the Falcons had the lead.
The game would remain 1-0 until the seventh. Gouge did not allow a hit until there was one out in the fourth. Meanwhile, the Falcons had threatened to score in the top of that inning, loading the bases with one out. Freshman Desiree Miller and junior Ashley Zirkle had singles, and senior Abby Habicht drew a walk against Bruin starter Chelsea Rae Goodwin. But, got a pair of grounders, one for a force at home and one to retire the side, and neither team seriously threatened again until the seventh inning.
In the top of the seventh, the Falcons got three runs to take a 4-0 lead. Again, McPherson got things started, with a one-out single. Heimrich reached on a throwing error, putting runners at second and third for Vallas. The junior clubbed a double to left to score both runners.
Freshman Hayley Wiemer followed with a double of her own to bring Vallas home.
In the bottom of the inning, Gouge came just one strike away from the shutout. She allowed a pair of singles and hit a batter to load the bases with two outs, but got two strikes on Meghan Pipkin before Pipkin singled to score a pair of teammates. Gouge recovered to get the next batter, Kori Bowser, to pop up to catcher Habicht to end the game.
McPherson's three hits paced the Falcons' nine-hit attack, with Vallas and Wiemer picking up two hits apiece. McPherson also had a pair of stolen bases in the game.
Angie Helseth had two of Belmont's five hits in the game.
Up next for the Falcons is a tournament that is arguably one of the most difficult in school history. BGSU will head to Waco, Texas, for next weekend's (March 3-5) Compass Bank Invitational. The Brown and Orange will play two games apiece against Mississippi State, Washington and host Baylor.
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