Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Baseball Begins Conference Play With a Win
March 24, 2006 | Baseball
March 24, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Bowling Green's ability to pitch their way out of a few jams and some timely hitting gave the Falcons a 5-3 win in the MAC opener at Eastern Michigan. Sophomore Nick Cantrell picked up his third win of the season while Junior Tyler Johnson became the fifth different Falcon to record a save this season.
Eastern Michigan threatened in the first with two men on and no outs. However, Junior Alan Brech retired the next two batters to end the inning. Unfortunately, the Eagles squeaked in a run the following inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Junior Mike Barnard recorded Bowling Green's first hit with a dribbler that rolled down the third base line. An acrobatic, full-extension catch by Eagle right fielder Isaiah Gainforth ruined an opposite field stroke by Freshman Ryan Shay and ended the inning by doubling up Barnard at first.
Brech faced a familiar scenario in the third, runners at first and second once again for Eastern Michigan. The Harrison, Ohio native rose to the occasion again as Trumaine Riley watched strike three catch the corner of the plate.
EMU managed to put two runners in scoring position with just one out in the fifth. Senior captain Tyler Wasserman saved a run by making a diving stop before throwing from his knees and nabbing the runner at first base. Bowling Green wiggled out of another jam with little damage, trailing by just two runs (2-0) after five innings.
Eastern Michigan pitcher George Fiddle began the sixth inning by plunking a pair of Falcons, handing BGSU two baserunners. Head Coach Danny Schmitz then called for a double steal that advanced both runners into scoring position. Junior Kurt Wells hustled out an infield single in which both runners scored as Barnard caught the Eagles sleeping on the play and scored all the way from second base to tie the game at 2-2.
Eastern Michigan responded in the home-half of the inning, regaining the lead on a sacrifice fly. The seventh inning was marred by another jam for the Falcons, but back-to-back strikeouts by Cantrell allowed the Brown and Orange to end the inning unscathed.
BGSU mixed together a pair of sacrifice bunts and two RBI-singles to gain a 5-3 advantage. Despite being out hit 10-5 and committing five errors, BGSU kept competing and held on for the win.
Bowling Green improves to 9-8 overall and 1-0 in the MAC. The Falcons head back to Ypsilanti, Michigan for game two against the Eagles, Saturday afternoon at 1 PM.
