Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
DUQUESNE
Baseball Suffers First Blemish
March 07, 2006 | Baseball
March 7, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - With the 11-7 win over Duquesne on Sunday, the Falcons improved to 6-0 on the season, Bowling Green's best start since 1997 (6-0). However, the streak ended as BGSU fell victim to a 12-6 defeat by Northeastern the following morning, March 6.
Bowling Green scored double-digit runs for the third this season in the win over Duquesne. The offensive explosion allowed Junior Greg Becker (2-0) to grab his second win of the season despite allowing six runs in 5.2 innings pitched.
The Brown and Orange got it started with a four-run second inning. Junior Josh Stewart jump-started the Falcon offense with a double to open the second stanza. Sophomore Andrew Foster and Junior Mike Barnard both drove a runner across home plate while Freshman Marty Baird drilled a two RBI-double to highlight the inning.
Both squads put a lone run on the scoreboard in the third, giving Bowling Green a 5-1 advantage until the sixth inning. Senior Jay Threet blasted his first home run of the season in the top of the sixth, a two-run shot. After Barnard contributed his second RBI of the day, the Falcons lead 8-1.
Becker had stymied the Dukes through the first five innings, but Duquesne gashed the righty for five runs in the sixth, trimming the Bowling Green lead to 8-6.
Back-to-back fielding errors by the Dukes to open the seventh proved to be costly as the Falcons took full advantage of the opportunity. A trio of Falcons followed the errors with three consecutive singles, capped off by a two RBI-single by Freshman Greg Feldkamp.
Trailing by five runs in the ninth, Duquesne attempted a rally before Junior Adam Gumpf shut the door, allowing just one run in the last 2.1 innings, securing the Falcon victory.
Five different Falcons tallied two or more RBI, including Junior Josh Dietz's game-high three RBI.
The Falcons once again gained an early lead in the Northeastern contest, scoring two runs in the second. Unfortunately, the Falcon lead was short-lived as Northeastern mustered at least one run in the next six innings, taking a 12-2 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth. A trio of freshman hurlers combined to allow the dozen runs before Sophomore Dan Horvath entered to work a hit-less ninth inning.
The Brown and Orange showed some life in the late innings, scoring four runs before falling 12-6 for the first loss of their season.
Seniors Bobby Majer (3-5) and Jay Threet (2-3, RBI) led the Falcon offense. Freshman Julian Bostelman secured his first career RBI on a pinch-hit single in the eighth.
Bowling Green continues with an 8:00 p.m. showdown against Mt. St. Mary's tomorrow night, Tuesday March 7th. Game number four of the spring break trip will be played at Manatee Community College in Bradenton, Florida.
