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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MICHIGAN STATE
Falcons Mercy State 11-1 in Six Innings
March 28, 2007 | Softball
March 28, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Much like the clear skies and sun over Old College Field, the onslaught of Falcon offense could not be predicted as Bowling Green State University collected their 15th win of the season (15-4), and first over a regional opponent, as the Orange and Brown took down the Green and White of Michigan State 11-1 in six innings. MSU dropped to 18-14 on the current season. Today was the first time the Falcons have scored runs in the double-digits this season. It was also their largest margin of victory.
"We expected to travel up here to compete and have a battle. I don't think you ever expect to show up to a softball field and beat someone 11-1; this is just not that type of game," said head coach Shannon Salsburg. With the victory Salsburg, a former Big Ten player, pushed her personal win record to five in East Lansing.
The win was only the second BGSU mercy rule decision against State. Coach Jacquie Joseph was involved in both today's and the 1990 BGSU/MSU encounter. Joseph was in her second year as head coach of the Falcons when BG downed State 10-0 in five innings, today she was in the MSU dugout.
The Falcons tallied 14 hits for their highest count of the season. It was the fifth time the BGSU woods have equaled double-digits and the second time in as many games. Additionally, each of their 11 runs was accounted for with an RBI.
"I am extremely excited that we came out strong in first inning and continued to hit entire game," said Salsburg. "Without question we are going to need to continue this type of play in the conference."
After sending the first pitch of the game foul into the creek behind Old College Field, Jeanine Baca reached first base bag on balls and the Falcons never looked back. Baca was joined by senior slapper Emmy Ramsey and the succession of Falcons on base continued for the remainder of the game.
Baca picked up another first of the season at Old College Field scoring the first run of 2007 when Hayley Wiemer's swing sent Rachel Turney's pitch to a pocket on the left side of the second baseman. Allison Vallas then drove a hard hit ball to the right side of the second baseman and enabled Ramsey to follow Baca's score with one of her own to put the Falcons out front 2-0 in the first. Catcher Ashley Zirkle's single down the first baseline scored Wiemer and allowed the first five Falcon batters to score a run or pick up an RBI. Wiemer was the only starter to do both in the first inning.
Bowling Green's mental state quickly switched to defense and held State scoreless in the first. BGSU's defense was, in fact, so mentally tough and effective it held MSU silent until the fifth inning.
Despite starting the second inning with two outs, Baca post-marked a pitch back to the MSU left field wall that, with a small gust of wind, would have cleared the 200 ft. mark. If the game was played in the predicted conditions of 20+ mph winds, the ball would likely have touched down on the 50-yardline of MSU's football stadium. Baca's hit instead landed her on second base. Once again Ramsey joined Baca's base running efforts finding herself on first after being hit by a pitch. Wiemer shadowed Baca with a deep hit towards the wall for a double scoring Baca and Ramsey.
In three at bats, Wiemer was a perfect 3-for-3 and scored three runs while batting in three RBI's. Baca (3-3) and Vallas (4-4) also had perfect batting days.
Bowling Green pulled away for the 5-0 lead after two complete innings.
MSU's defense found its composure and held BGSU scoreless for the first time in the third inning.
In the fourth, BGSU once again found itself two outs in the hole and ignored the scoreboard. With the full count on her shoulders, Vallas made Turney's pitch a souvenir for anyone behind the green State wall with her three run bomb. The imminent mercy ruling was heavy in the atmosphere as BGSU pushed the game out of reach as the scoreboard read 8-0 at the end of four Falcon batting innings.
MSU's offense showed a sign of life when Kelly Confer sent a ball past its own green monster but was ruled foul. Coach Joseph's Spartans finally got on the scoreboard as Meghan Darhower hit the wall just below scoreboard to run in Megan Hair, a pinch runner, in bottom of the fourth for the only MSU score of the day.
Turney once again regained a bit of control over the Falcon bats and helped her defense hold the BGSU twigs scoreless once again in the fifth.
At the end of five, BGSU was up 8-1 but was one run shy of the mercy rule so play continued into the sixth inning.
In front of her parents who were visiting from California, Baca, the lead-off hitter, smacked her second homerun of the season to guarantee the BGSU victory and give the program its fifth season with 20 or more long distance aces. Currently, the Falcons are just 12 homers shy of tying the school record of 32 in a single season. Both Wiemer and Vallas also scored in the sixth to disappoint MSU on opening day.
MSU left two runners on base to end the game with total hits including one in the final inning of play.
This was the fourth outing for the Falcons to hit two or more homeruns.
"We were excited to be back outside, on the field and get ready for conference play. I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome and our team effort," said Salsburg.
Bowling Green will open the home and conference seasons on Friday with double header action against Kent State. BGSU is 17-11 when opening the home season at BGSU Softball Field.
