Falcon Comeback Falls Short in 5-3 Loss to Michigan State

Wednesday, March 28

Bowling Green, Ohio

2:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

MICHIGAN STATE

March 28, 2007 | Baseball

March 28, 2007

Final Stats

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University baseball team fell behind four runs to none after one and a half innings, but battled back to make a very suspenseful bottom of the ninth before eventually dropping a 5-3 decision to Michigan State.

After a three-run top of the second inning, the Falcons pushed back with two runs of their own in the home-half of the inning. BGSU was able to plate two runs when four of five batters in a row recorded singles. Freshman Derek Spencer and Senior Eric Lawson each drove in a run.

With the Spartans scoring a lone run in the top of the sixth, Bowling Green came right back with a score in the bottom of the inning once again. Sophmore Andrew Foster hit a double down the left-field line to open the inning. Senior Mike Barnard, argubably the Falcons top bunter, laid down his fourth sacrifice bunt of the season to push Foster over to third base. Senior Kurt Wells' SAC fly then advanced Foster the final 90 feet to home plate.

Neither team could muster a run the next two innings and Freshman Richie O'Brien shut down MSU in the top of the ninth. Freshman Dennis Vaughn stepped into the box as a pinch hitter to begin the inning, and was beaned. Next up was Lawson, the MAC's most walked player in 2006, showed his patience once again by fending off several foul balls to stay alive and eventually draw the walk. Freshman Mark Galvin came into pinch run for Dennis Vaughn as well. Bowling Green's next batter was also hit by a pitch to put the winning run on first base with no outs.

Sophomore Ryan Shay connected on a fly ball to center field, but the 26 mph winds from the northeast held it up in the air, not allowing the runner from third to tag up. Sophomore Marty Baird dug in next for the Falcons. The Findlay, Ohio native belted a line drive right back at the pitcher which looked like it may score a run or two. However, MSU's Mike Montery reacted lightning fast and snagged the line drive right above his toes, spun around and tossed the ball over to third before the Falcon runner could get back for a game-ending double play.

The Brown and Orange jump back into conference play with a road trip to Kalamazoo, Michigan this weekend, beginning with a 3 PM contest on Friday.