Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MAINE
Falcons Blank Maine in Salsburg's First Victory
February 23, 2007 | Softball
Feb. 23, 2007
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Head coach Shannon Salsburg's Falcons (1-1) earned the first win of the new coaching era as they blanked the University of Maine (1-2) in the second game of the Panera Bread Challenge. Bowling Green split opening day action.
"It was exciting to get this win, but it was more exciting for me to see this team improve so much from our first game to our second," said a victorious Salsburg. "In game one we came out pretty tight, but we loosened up and were much more relaxed in game two."
The Falcons scored immediately when lead-off hitter Jeanine Baca took the trip around the diamond courtesy of two stolen bases. Baca reached first on a fly ball to center field and made it to the second and third base bags while Dawnjene DeLong was in the batters box. Hayley Wiemer gave the Falcons a second scoring option after reaching first on an error by the Black Bear short stop. As Allison Vallas was facing the Maine pitcher, Weimer stole second and then advanced to third as Baca scored on a wild pitch. Vallas became the third Falcon to land on the first base bag after being walked. Wiemer appeared as if she would give the Falcons an early two run advantage, but was caught out at home. Bowling Green finished the inning with Vallas and Ashley Zirkle remaining on base; both were active offensive scoring threats due to walks from the Maine pitching staff.
Bowling Green held the Maine offense at bay allowing just one hit in the first inning and limiting the Black Bears to three batters in the second and third innings.
The Falcons scored again in the top of the fourth inning as Zirkle lit the scoreboard just two batters later. The senior catcher began the inning with a double to left center and remained on second through one batter. Sophomore transfer Brittnay Hay drove in her first RBI in the Orange and Brown with a single she turned into a two base play after advancing on the throw. Zirkle completed her base journey at home and the Falcon scoring drive on the same play.
BGSU connected for additional hits in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Maine batters recorded three of their four hits in the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to take advantage of any base runners efforts.
Through seven innings, junior pitcher Emily Gouge struck out eleven of the twenty-five batters she faced.
"Gouge was phenomenal on the mound today," said Salsburg. "She had total control the entire game and it was fantastic for our team."
On the day, senior co-captains Zirkle and Baca each had three of the Falcons' seven total hits.
Tomorrow's doubleheader action will open with morning opponent St. Francis (PA) Red Flash. The second game will give BGSU an early opportunity to scout the Mid-American Conference with an afternoon battle against Miami.
