Bowling Green State University Athletics
Big Bats, Bigger Gloves Give BG Tournament Success
March 21, 2007 | Softball
March 21, 2007
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - If the old coaching adage "offense sells tickets, defense wins games" is true, this season the softball Falcons might just be its poster girls. In three tournaments, the Falcons potent hitting has crushed 18 homeruns en route three championship appearances and two tournament crowns.
"The team has really focused on increasing our power production, and so far it has been a big factor for us," said head coach Shannon Salsburg. "I have also been pleased to see the increase in consistency throughout our line-up."
The two biggest power producers in the South were sophomore Hayley Wiemer and junior Allison Vallas. The two led the Falcons with four shots to another area code each. Wiemer finished the tournament season with team highs in batting (.375) and slugging (.729) percentages and hits (18). In Charleston, she racked up a team tournament high .625 batting average and was slugging 1.313. Her spectacular performance was complimented by a team high three homeruns, 21 total bases and 10 hits and a tournament MVP nod. Vallas and freshman Susan Sontag slugged above .500 and batted over .315. Sontag led all freshman in runs (3), hits (15) and at bats (46).
Speaking of that hard hitting offense, if the Falcons continue their current hitting track, they may very well shatter the 2005 homerun record of 32 in a single season. In 28 complete seasons, only four have seen the Falcons go the distance more than 20 times ('98-23, '03-20, '05-32, '06-24). Salsburg is also breaking records as the only first year head coach to lead a team to ten-plus long balls in her initial year at the helm.
Said Salsburg, "We are continuing to work on making adjustments and becoming better hitters every game. The fun part has been that each game someone new comes through making it impossible to count us out at any time."
The hitting wealth has spread through the Falcons to the extreme that seven of the nine designated starters have hit at least one to the fence. Bowling Green is also out batting their opponents in every statistical hitting scenario. Collectively, those pitchers who faced the BG sticks accounted for a 4.05 ERA.
The Orange and Brown accumulated 196 total bases and rode a .350 on base percentage. Along the infield baseline the Falcons are even more threatening to the defense seeing as they have a 65% (15-23) of advancing their placement on a steal.
Obviously the offense is exciting to watch, but how is the defense helping to win games? The answer lies in the trifecta of hurlers on the hill.
Against BGSU, 123 of the 404 total batters have been sent back to the bench on the three count. Junior Emily Gouge was responsible for a staff high 70 (57%) of the K's while fellow veteran Hayley Wiemer contributed 40 (33%). The remaining 13 was thrown by southpaw freshman, Sharon Palma. Collectively, the three posted a 1.53 ERA and shutout five opponents. In the 16 games, opposing swingers were held to a .183 batting average.
"The pitching staff has been fantastic during the entire preseason, said Salsburg. "It is easy to play defense and hit behind a staff that day in and day out gives you an opportunity to win a game."
And the defense enjoyed the opportunities afforded by the pitching staff.
BGSU allowed just 12 doubles and six homeruns. Even more, opponents laid a big goose egg in the three base column. The Falcons also held their opponents to a .257 slugging percentage and a low .183 batting average. Bowling Green allowed just 104 bases to be touched in 16 games; nearly half of their own total amount (194).
With the tournament season in the past, Salsburg and Co. will play one last non-conference warm-up at Michigan State on Wednesday (Mar. 28) before opening the home, and conference, season against MAC rival Kent State on FRIDAY (Mar. 30). The battle with the Spartans will commence at 3:00 p.m. while the first of many conference pitches will be tossed at 1:00 p.m. from BGSU's Softball Field.
