Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
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WESTERN MICHIGAN
DeLong Slams Falcons Past Broncos, 5-2
May 09, 2007 | Softball
May 9, 2007
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MIDLAND, Mich. (BGSUFalcons.com) - There are many ways to occupy a morning in Midland, Mich. A team could watch the "Blue Collar Comedy Tour - the Movie" in a private theater or their team bus depending upon which was available, take a few new pictures with friends or stop at 7-Eleven for slurrpies and snacks. One might think a conference tournament game at Currie Stadium would be the best option, but there is a good possibility that Mother Nature will have other plans in mind.
The words `rain' and `rain delay' have become synonymous with the MAC Softball Tournament. Last season, numerous rain delays forced the conference tournament contests to overflow into various practice fields to be played. One such delay was the Bowling Green/Ohio University match-up that, as recalled by assistant coach Susan Sargent, hit several rain induced speedbumps before BGSU won 3-0. In 1996, after a near decade sans the tournament, in climate weather suspended it during the third game. According to one field official, the MAC Tournament has brought rain to its site for the past four seasons.
After a less than a two hour rain delay the Bowling Green State University Falcons (32-10) were given the chance to take on the Western Michigan Broncos (20-22) in game one of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Currie Stadium. Eastern Michigan took a one run lead over the Falcons off Kristi Strange's homerun to left field in the first - and only - inning that was played before the first official rain delay of the game. "Play ball" was called at 1:42 p.m. and the teams were forced to retreat back to their respective dugouts at 2:02 p.m.
After a BG trip to Quizzno's and the fourth raking of the field the stands began to once again fill; this time an unknown fan made an appearance during the warm-up, it was the sun.
First pitch of the second inning was tossed at 3:51 p.m.
The BGSU defense, obviously energized from the lunchtime subs, downed the six, seven, eight batters one, two, three on a grounder to Carly Riepenhoff at second and some high heat with back-to-back strikes thrown by Hayley Weimer to open the second inning of the game.
Western Michigan answered with their own three-up three-down series and the 1-0 lead carried into the bottom of the third. Senior Jeanine Baca ripped a soon to be score to the right field fence and motored her way to the hot corner where she rested through Lauren Hoffman's pinch hitting appearance. Hoffman's slap into the air was dropped by the first baseman and Emmy Ramsey was entered back into the game to run the bases starting at first. With the number three batter, Wiemer, at the plate Ramsey advanced to second on a steal and the fun began. A wild pitch by the Black and Gold's Kyla Sullivan scored Baca from third and evened the playing field at the picket fence (1-1) in the bottom of the third and advanced Ramsey to third base. Ramsey attempted to steal home as Wiemer was walked but was caught out on her slide en route to the plate. In the commotion Wiemer took second but was unable to turn the effort into another run in the scorebook.
Both infield defenses ruled supreme through the fourth inning giving the opposing team's little chance of gaining the lead until Molly Mroczek hit the second WMU homerun to the same zone as Strange's first inning bomber. With the 2-1 deficit, Wiemer was moved to DP and Emily Gouge took over control in the circle where she went on to strikeout three of the seven batters in which she faced.
Bowling Green kept Western silent through the remainder of the contest, but it was Dawnjene DeLong's grand slam in the sixth inning which made all the difference in the game.
Wiemer kicked off the inning with a walk and was called safe at second when Allison Vallas' infield single to short wasn't flipped to the second baseman quickly enough to send the lead runner back to the dug out. Ashley Zirkle joined her fellow Falcons on a hard hit aimed straight back at Sullivan in the circle to load the bases without an out. From there, DeLong chose her pitch, the first one thrown at her, and sent it past the fences and into the Ohio University practice area behind the playing field. The grand slam was the third order from the Denny's breakfast menu by the Falcons this season.
Gouge struckout two of the next two batters and fittingly a grounder to DeLong ended the game and maintained the 5-2 BGSU first round win.
With the victory, BGSU will face the winner of the Eastern Michigan/Ohio University game which was called after three innings due to more poor weather. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. but is subject to change.
As a result of today's weather, start times have been changed often and the BGSU/WMU game was the only contest to finish all seven innings of play. The rest of today's scheduled games are expected to be made-up tomorrow morning as well as the regularly scheduled bracket play. Please consult the PDF at the top of this release for more information.
