Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Kent State
Falcons Win a Wild One, 10-8, at Kent State
April 01, 2006 | Softball
April 1, 2006
KENT, Ohio - It might sound like an April Fool's joke, but it isn't. The Bowling Green State University softball team allowed eight runs in a game -- the most surrendered by the Falcons against a Mid-American Conference foe in two years -- but still pulled out the victory Saturday afternoon (April 1).
The Falcons captured a wild game at Kent State University, scoring a pair of runs in the eighth inning for a 10-8 win over the Golden Flashes at the Kent State Softball Field. The win improves the Brown and Orange to 20-10 overall and 3-0 in MAC play, while the Flashes drop to 10-15 and 1-1, respectively.
Junior Ashley Zirkle and sophomore Dawnjene DeLong each hit homeruns in the win. Zirkle's homer was her second of the year, and her second in as many games, while DeLong's round-tripper was the first of her collegiate career.
Sophomore Emily Gouge, the last of three BG pitchers used in the game, picked up the win to improve to 5-0 on the season.
BGSU scored in seven of the eight innings, including each of the first four. The Falcons opened the scoring in the top of the first, as DeLong opened the game with a double, and freshman Hayley Wiemer drew a walk against KSU starter Brittney Robinson. DeLong and Wiemer then pulled off a double steal, before Robinson retired the next two hitters.
The second of those outs, however, was a popup to second baseman Ashley Ball, who threw the ball away in an attempt to double DeLong off of third base. DeLong trotted home for the game's first run.
BGSU doubled the lead in the second inning, as senior Abby Habicht had a leadoff single and took second on a groundout. One out later, DeLong singled to centerfield to plate Habicht for a 2-0 BG lead.
The Golden Flashes halved the lead in the bottom of the inning, as Robinson homered off of her counterpart, Wiemer. But, BG would answer with three runs in the top of the third.
Senior Gina Rango, hitless in her four previous games, snapped that slide in a big way. Rango had four hits on Saturday, beginning with a single to begin the third.
Sophomore Allison Vallas successfully bunted Rango to second, but Rango was erased on the basepaths after a single by freshman Desiree Miller. Habicht, though, drew a walk, and Zirkle followed with a three-run blast for a 5-1 Falcon lead.
KSU threatened in the bottom of the third, but Wiemer and senior Liz Vrabel managed to keep the Flashes from scoring, despite three hits in the inning. After back-to-back singles by Whitney Lebowitz and Jamie Fitzpatrick loaded the bases with two outs, Vrabel entered the game and proceeded to get an inning-ending strikeout of Megan Verde.
In the fourth, the Falcons were at it again, scoring another run for a 6-1 lead. DeLong was the first batter to face KSU reliever Erin Christopher, and was hit by a pitch. DeLong took second on Wiemer's infield single, and scored on Rango's single to left.
The Flashes, however, responded in a big way, with a pair of homers -- including a grand slam -- in the bottom of the inning. Ball led off with a solo shot to left-center, before Vrabel retired the next two hitters. Then, however, Kim Hamilton blooped a double down the left-field line, and Jessica Toocheck and Ashley Fairhurst drew back-to-back walks, loading the bases for Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick unloaded the bases with a homer to straightaway center, tying the game at 6-6.
KSU seemed to have all of the momentum, as Christopher retired the side without allowing a run for the first (and what would prove to be the only) time all day. Habicht reached on an error to begin the fifth, and junior Megan McPherson drew a one-out walk, but the Falcons did not score in that frame.
Gouge entered the game in the bottom of the inning, and the hosts proceeded to take the lead. Robinson had a one-out single and took second on a wild pitch. With two down, Toocheck singled to score Robinson and give KSU the lead for the first time, 7-6.
The Falcons responded, however. With one out in the sixth, Rango doubled to center, and took third on a Vallas grounder. Miller followed with a clutch, two-out single to right, scoring Rango and tying the game.
Gouge kept the hosts off the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning, and the Falcons took the lead in the seventh. Christopher retired the first two hitters, but DeLong hit a solo homer down the right-field line to put BG ahead.
In the bottom of the inning, however, the Flashes extended the game by scoring an unearned run. Corey Houk reached base on a one-out error, and came all the way around on Toocheck's two-out double. Toocheck was thrown out on the bases on the play, but not before Houk had touched the plate to tie the game and force extra innings.
BGSU took the lead for good in the eighth, beginning with Rango's fourth hit of the day, a one-out single to left. Vallas followed with a single of her own, and Miller drew a walk to load the bases. Then, Habicht crossed up the Golden Flashes with a bunt, and all runners were safe. Habicht's single would prove to be the game-winning hit, as Rango scored to give the visitors a 9-8 lead.
The Flashes got an out at the plate on Zirkle's grounder, but junior Lauren Hoffman came through with a pinch-hit single, scoring Miller and chasing Christopher. Gabrielle Burns came on to get the final out, but the damage had been done. Gouge retired the Golden Flashes in order in the bottom of the eighth, picking up the win.
There were hitting heroes aplenty. Rango led all players with a four-hit day, going 4-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI. DeLong had three hits in five at-bats, including a double and the seventh-inning homer, scoring three times and driving in two runs.
Miller also had three hits, and scored a pair of runs. Habicht had two hits and two runs scored, and both Habicht and Miller had one RBI.
Zirkle had one hit, the three-run homer, in the win, while Hoffman also drove in a run. Eight of BG's nine players in the starting lineup had at least one hit, with all 10 Falcons who made a plate appearance reaching base via either a hit or a walk.
For the Flashes, Toocheck reached base in all five plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a pair of walks. Lebowitz also had three hits, while Fitzpatrick, Hamilton and Robinson had two apiece. KSU pounded out 13 hits in the loss.
Gouge, the winning pitcher, allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in four innings of work. The sophomore struck out four batters without issuing a walk in improving to a perfect 5-0 on the season.
Wiemer allowed a run and five hits in two-and-two-thirds innings, while Vrabel surrendered five runs and four hits in an inning and a third.
For the Flashes, Robinson -- who has pitched two no-hitters this spring -- allowed five runs and seven hits in her three innings, walking four and striking out four. Christopher pitched four-and-two-thirds innings, giving up five runs and 10 hits, while Burns retired the lone batter she faced.
The teams return to the Kent State Softball Field for a single game on Sunday afternoon (April 2), beginning at 1:00 p.m.
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