Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MICHIGAN STATE
Spartans Hold Off Falcons in Late Innings
March 16, 2008 | Softball
March 16, 2008
DELAND, Florida - The Falcons finished their stay in the Sunshine state this morning (Mar. 16) against Big Ten regional foe Michigan State. The Orange and Brown fell 6-2 to the Spartans despite two late inning rallies by the Falcons.
The Spartans struck first scoring three runs in the first inning off of a single and homer. The Falcon defense stepped up to keep the Spartans scoreless for the next two innings.
In the top of the fourth the Spartans were able to score another run, taking a 4-0 lead over the Falcons. The BG offense got started in the bottom of the fourth as senior Allison Vallas hit a lead-off line drive to right field. The Falcons were kept scoreless in the bottom of the fourth but not for long.
Both teams were scoreless in the fifth with a three up- three down inning for both teams. The Spartans were able to add another run in the top of sixth extending their lead to 6-0.
The Orange and Brown started the bottom of the sixth with Hayley Wiemer getting a free ticket to first bringing Vallas up to the plate. Vallas then crushed a homer over the center field wall to put the Falcons on the board, 6-2. Missy Bowman and Melissa Bott followed the homer up with back-to-back singles, however the Falcons weren't able to score again.
The Falcon defense held strong with a one, two, three inning holding the Spartans in the top of the seventh.
The Orange and Brown started off the bottom of the seventh with consecutive singles from Rachel Delp and Dawnjene DeLong but the Falcons weren't able to drive any runs home falling to the Spartans, 6-2.
BG had five players hit a .333 or better against the Spartans. Vallas led the Falcon bats going two-for-three, her fifth multiple hit game of the season, hitting .667 with a 1.667 slugging percentage smashing her second homer of the season and bringing home two RBIs. Bott went one-for-one recording her first collegiate hit with a single up the middle. Bowman and Delp both went one-for-two each hitting a single. DeLong hit a .333 on the day.
