Softball Falls 1-0 to Western Michigan in Extra Innings

Sunday, May 6

Bowling Green, Ohio

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

WESTERN MICHIGAN

May 06, 2007 | Softball

May 6, 2007

Final Stats

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - A walk, a late hit and an error spoiled BGSU's last outing at home as Western Michigan stole the 1-0 win in the eighth inning of the 2007 regular season finale. Senior Day festivities were celebrated prior to the contest to honor captains Jeanine Baca and Ashley Zirkle and their fellow classmates Lauren Hoffman and Emmy Ramsey. Under the direction of head coach Shannon Salsburg, the Falcons end the regular season at 9-3 in the friendly confines of the BGSU Softball Field and are 31-10 since their first outing in late February.

The Orange and Brown's 14-6 conference record is projected to land BGSU as the third overall seed in the upcoming Mid-American Conference Tournament. Western Michigan, the pre-season favorite concludes their season at 20-21 overall and 12-10 in the MAC making the Broncos a projected tournament six seed. If these calculations are proven correct, a re-match of today's game will occur on Wednesday afternoon in Midland, Mich. as the three-six game will kick-off the conference tournament.

In the top of the seventh, Mandi Sayres connected for her second hit of the game, a double, to break up junior Emily Gouge's 17 batter retirement plan which included five full innings without a Bronco leaving home plate. Sayres remained on second as Gouge tossed back-to-back strikeouts keep the scoreless stalemate intact.

Becky Bartoz earned WMU's only walk of the day as the leadoff hitter in the top of the eighth inning and was advanced to second on an ensuing sacrifice bunt. Nikolla Griffin entered the game as a pinch runner for Bartoz and found herself further than any other runner when she took advantage of a passed ball to secure a spot on the hot corner. Designated player Lauren Fuller cracked the game winning hit as she got under a ball to send Gouge's pitch to right field. The ball dropped in front of corner fielder Susan Sontag and Griffin scored as Sontag's throw to home surpassed Zirkle's glove.

Gouge struck out 10 Broncos en route to her seventh complete game of the season in the circle for the Falcons. It was the third time this season she finished a game with 10+ strikeouts. In 122.2 innings pitched she has thrown a total of 135 K's - just three shy of her 138 two-year total entering the season.

Leading into today's match, BGSU was 1-1 when tied after six full innings and had out scored their opponents 16-6 in the seventh inning. Furthermore, they had edged the opposition 5-4 in extra innings.

Ramsey, along with junior Allison Vallas and freshman Carly Riepenhoff combined for the Falcons' three hits of the afternoon. Vallas reached first in each of her three at bats as she recorded the hit and a walk. In her final at bat, she reached first on an error by the second baseman and advanced to second on the throw. Her two appearances at second base were the most for all Falcon batters.

First base was occupied by Bowling Green nine times today, but the Falcons were unable to safely advance past second base on their three trips to the center bag.

Bowling Green awaits to hear the confirmation of their seeding and first opponent in the conference tournament. The bracketing announcement is expected to be made by the conference office within the coming day or sooner.

NOTES ABOUT THE SENIOR CLASS
* With their stellar play this season, the Class of 2007 has led the Falcons to qualify for the Mid-American Conference Tournament for the fourth time in their tenure. In doing so, they become one of three groups to make the league tourney in all four years and the second consecutive class to accomplish the feat.

*As freshmen (2004), they not only helped the Falcons to the MAC Tournament, but to five consecutive victories and the first MAC Tournament title in school history and to the most recent NCAA Regional birth.

* The quartet has seen BGSU set consecutive program homerun records in 2006 and 2007 as well as tying the school record of 37 single season victories in 2006. To date, their 31-10 record is the best 41 game start in program history.

*The group has amassed a record 131 wins to date for the most victories in a four-year span in school history. In conference play, they are 55-33 including this weekend's wins over NIU on Friday and split with Western Michigan.

ABOUT THE FALCONS
* The 14-6 finish in the MAC gives the 2007 Falcons the best win percentage (.700) under a first year head coach in school history and is the third team to finish above .500 in the same season. Leigh Ross' 1999 Falcons previously topped all-first year coaches with their mark of .577 (15-11) while Rachel Miller-Reif's 1994 Falcons posted a .533 (16-14) percentage. Both Ross (21-28) and Miller-Rief (21-28) won 21 games their first season where as Salsburg's Falcons have won an additional 10 to date (31-10).