Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
EASTERN MICHIGAN
BGSU Softball Sweeps Eagles In Home Opener, 3-0 and 9-4
April 11, 2008 | Softball
April 11, 2008
Game Two Box Score in PDF Format 
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - After 23 straight games on the road to open the 2008 season BGSU softball Head Coach Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons had the homecoming they were looking forward to as they swept the Eastern Michigan Eagles, shutting them out in game one, 3-0 and sealing the deal in game two, 9-4.
On a windy opening day, Salsburg and company got their revenge on Mid-American Conference West division opponent Eastern Michigan after losing to the Eagles earlier in the season in a non-conference tilt. The Falcon sticks were bigger than ever out hitting the Eagles 18-12 on the day with every player stepping up to the plate recording at least one hit, including four long balls by the Falcons' tri-captains Allison Vallas, Dawnjene DeLong and Hayley Wiemer. DeLong and Wiemer each hit a one-run homer, while Vallas crushed two balls over the fence, a one-run homer and a two-run homer, becoming the sixth Falcon in program history to record two homers in a single game.
The Falcons' offense was led by DeLong going three-for-five with a .600 batting average and a 1.200 slugging percentage, including a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored. Vallas and Missy Bowman each went three-for-six hitting .500 batting average. Vallas crushed two homers, four RBIs and scored three runs posting a 1.500 slugging percentage on the day, while Bowman recorded a double and one RBI. Gouge and Boso both ended the day with two hits with Gouge also adding two RBIs.
In the circle Wiemer dominated the Eagles keeping them scoreless in 10.2 innings, earning two more wins now 6-4 overall and 6-0 in the MAC. Wiemer retired nine batters while Gouge struck out two.
"Today was a complete team effort once again," said Head Coach Shannon Salsburg. "We had people come through in clutch situations throughout the batting order with some individuals having a huge day. It was a great day for Vallas. She came back in the second game and did a tremendous job of putting us on the board. Wiemer, did a nice job of throwing today in both games, keeping them off balance and mixing and matching. Both she and Boso did a great job together calling pitches. Our defense was solid as well. Every time they started to get a little bit of a run we found a way to shut the door, which is a huge step for this team."
The Falcons will return to action at the BGSU Softball Field as they host the Central Michigan Chippewas in a two game series Saturday (April 12) at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday (April 13) at 1:00 p.m.
Game One Against Eastern Michigan
Hayley Wiemer dominated from the circle once again shutting out the Eagles in game one. Only one EMU player reached base in the first three innings on a base-on-balls with Wiemer only giving up for hits in the first game.
The closest the Eagles came to scoring was in the top of the fourth off of two hits but solid defense by the Falcons kept them scoreless. With two outs and a runner on second EMU's Jessica grant singled to left field and as the Eagles tried to score Susan Sontag threw the runner out at home to end the inning.
The Eagles were able to keep the Falcon bats under wrap in the first three innings as well only giving up one hit, but in the bottom of the fourth Wiemer stepped up to the plate smashing a lead-off homer to left center giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead over the Eagles. The Falcons scored their last two runs in the bottom of fifth as Boso started the offense off with a lead-off double to right center. Rachel Delp followed up Boso with a single up the middle to put runners on first and third for BG. Then with one out and runners on second and third DeLong singled to left field to drive in the Falcons' last two runs.
The Falcons shut out the Eagles, 3-0 as Wiemer threw her second shut out of the season and recorded her fifth straight MAC win.
Game Two Against Eastern Michigan
In game two of the double-header the Falcons out hit the Eagles once again this time 12-8, which is the second most hits BG has recorded in a single game this season. Seven different Falcons recorded a hit with three players recording two hits and one player with three hits. The Falcon offense was led by the seniors in game two. Vallas hit a perfect three-for-three with a 3.000 slugging percentage including two homers, four RBIs and three runs scored. DeLong went two-for-three with a .667 batting average and a 1.667 slugging percentage including a homer, one RBI and two runs scored. Gouge also went two-for-three with two RBIs. Freshman Missy Bowman rounded out the Falcons who recorded a multiple hit game going two-for-four with a double and a RBI.
Eastern Michigan struck first as started the game with a lead-off homer to left field in the first inning taking an early, 1-0 lead.
However, the Falcons fired right back as lead-off batter DeLong smashed a homer to left field tying the game up, 1-1. With two outs Allison Vallas stepped up the plate crushing her first homer of the game to right field giving the Falcons their first lead of the game, 2-1.
The Eagles scored another run in the top of the second once again bringing the game to a tie, 2-2. The Falcons were kept scoreless in the bottom of the second inning despite a lead-off double off the right field wall by Bowman.
The Falcons would capture the lead once again in the bottom of the third inning as the Falcon seniors each recorded a hit. DeLong started off with a single to center but advanced to second as she took advantage of EMU's center fielder mishandling the ball. With two outs once again Falcons' clean-up hitter Vallas stepped up to the plate and blasted her second straight long ball to right field to bring in two runs giving the Falcons a 4-2 lead. Gouge followed the senior trend with a single.
The Eagles scored their last two runs in the fourth inning off of a two-run homer by Heather Giroux, her first career long ball, which tied the game up for the third time, 4-4. Wiemer then came in to relieve Gouge and end the inning.
The Falcons had a huge fifth inning scoring three runs off of three hits to go a head of the Eagles for the remainder of the game. The bottom of the fifth started off with Wiemer getting a free ticket to first on a base-on-balls followed by Vallas getting hit by her fourth pitch of the season. Gouge singled up the middle to bring home the go ahead and winning run for the Falcons but the inning didn't end there for BG. Bowman then singled to through the left side scoring Vallas giving the Falcons a two run cushion, 6-4. Haleigh Bielstein singled to right to score another run for the Falcons extending BG's lead, 7-4.
The Eagles were kept scoreless in the sixth and seventh inning with the Falcons recording their last two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sontag started the Falcons with a lead-off single followed by Wiemer receiving her second straight walk of the game. Vallas then recorded her third hit of the game with a single through the right side bring home one run for the Falcons and moving Wiemer to third. Gouge then hit her first career sacrifice fly to right field to score Wiemer and give the Falcons a 9-4 lead.
The Falcons swept the Eagles winning game two, 9-4 with Wiemer recording her sixth straight win in MAC play and moving the Falcons to 6-19 overall and 6-2 in the MAC.
Falcon Notes
BGSU RECORD BOOK: TWO-HOMER GAMES
Libby Voshell (March 12, 2001 vs. Illinois)
Kandice Machain (March 30, 2002 at Kent State)
Gina Rango (April 24, 2004 vs. Northern Illinois)
Jeanine Baca (April 29, 2004 at Detroit)
Gina Rango (Feb. 25, 2006 vs. UAB)
Gina Rango (April 30, 2006 vs. Toledo)
Hayley Wiemer (Mar. 20, 2007 vs. Kent State)
Hayley Wiemer (Feb. 22, 2008 vs. Lipscomb)
Allison Vallas (April 11, 2008 vs. Eastern Michigan)
