Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Falcons Defeat Chippewas in Extra Innings, 7-6
April 12, 2008 | Softball
April 12, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - On a very cold and damp Saturday afternoon (April 12) the Falcons battled in extra innings to beat Mid-American West division leader, Central Michigan, 7-6 to extend their winning streak to three games overall and five games in MAC play. Salsburg's squad is now 7-19 overall and 7-2 in the MAC.
The Falcon sticks were led by a tag-team effort from the heart of the line-up as Hayley Wiemer and Allison Vallas each recording their fifth homer of the season. Wiemer and Vallas both went two-for-four with a 1.500 and a 1.250 slugging percentage. Wiemer recorded a double, a homer, one RBI and one run score, while clean-up hitter Vallas recorded a homer, four RBIs and two runs score. Emily Gouge went a perfect three-for-three on the day with one RBI in the five spot for the Falcons, hitting a career high three hits in a single game. Susan Sontag was the other Falcon to have a multiple hit game with two hits and a .400 batting average.
On the mound for the Falcons Gouge pick up her first win of the season striking out two in two innings of play. In Wiemers 12th start of the season she retired seven batters in six innings of work allowing no runners past second base and giving up only one hit in the first six innings.
"Today was a fantastic day for us," said Head Coach Shannon Salsburg. "Anytime you can pick up a win it is great, but when you are challenged by a quality team like Central Michigan and you are able to come back and take care of business it is a big day. It was just a great day for our team who has fought through so much this year."
Wiemer once again took charge on the mound from the first pitch giving up only one hit and keeping the Chippewas scoreless in the first six innings. She also stepped up at the plate putting the Falcons on the first as she crushed her fifth homer of the season and second of the weekend to left center, putting the Falcons up 1-0 in the first inning.
After giving up an early homer to Wiemer, the Chippewas contained the Falcon bats giving up only one more in the next four innings. However, the Orange and Brown broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth scoring three runs on four hits. Dawnjene DeLong led of the Falcons in the bottom of the sixth with a base-on-balls. Susan Sontag then came up to the plate slapping a perfectly placed ball to the left side of the infield for a base hit, giving the Falcons two base runners. Vallas then stepped up to the plate and crushed a three run homer that soared over the right field fence, extending the Falcons lead over the Chippewas, 4-0. Gouge and Missy Bowman kept the Falcon rally going with back-to-back singles but before BG could score again Central Michigan was able to end the inning.
The Chippewas then had their biggest inning of the day as they scored six runs off of seven hits in the top of the seventh inning. The Falcons new that the Chippewas' bats, currently the third best in conference play, had some big bats and despite great pitching by Wiemer, Central Michigan was finally able to get their bats going. Gouge came into the circle in relief in the top of the seventh but before the Falcons were able to get three outs the Chippewas took a two run lead over the Falcons, 4-6.
Down two runs going into the bottom of the seventh inning the top of the Falcons' line-up was due up to the plate. With one out the Sontag started the Falcons out with a single to the right side of the infield. Wiemer then smashed a long fly ball to left field which looked to be a homer but the gusty winds played a few tricks with the ball keeping it in the park. With runners on second and third Vallas was intentionally walked for the third time of the career loading the bases for the Falcons. Gouge then singled up the middle driving home Sontag cutting the Chippewas' lead to one run, 5-6. With two outs, bases loaded and the Falcons still down by one run Katelynn Boso drew a base-on-balls to bring home Vallas tying the game up, 6-6. The Falcons weren't able to score again in the bottom of the seventh but took the game into extra innings.
Gouge and the Falcon defense kept the Chippewas scoreless in the eighth.
Lindsay Arney led the Falcons off with a base-on-balls putting the winning run on base for BG. Then with two outs Wiemer stepped up to the plate and was also given a free ticket to first on a base-on-balls, putting the winning run 60 feat closer to home plate bringing up Falcon clean-up hitter Vallas. Central Michigan pitcher came out firing at Vallas with two straight strikes. With a 0-2 count on Vallas, two outs and runners on first and second for the Falcons, the runners were going on contact as Vallas singled up the middle there was no stopping Arney on the base path as she rounded third base and headed home. The Chippewas tried to make the play at home but Arney beat the throw sliding into home plate safe, scoring the winning run for the Falcons, 7-6.
The Falcons will finish up their opening weekend at home as they take on the Chippewas on Sunday (April 13) for game two of the series with the first pitching being thrown at 1:00 p.m. at the BGSU Softball Field.
