Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
TOLEDO
Falcons Hit Five Homers In, 15-11, Victory Over Arch-Rival Toledo
April 16, 2008 | Baseball
April 16, 2008
TOLEDO, Ohio - Four late-inning runs broke an 11-11 tie and propelled the Bowling Green State University baseball team to a 15-11 victory over arch-rival Toledo on Wednesday in their mid-week non-conference battle at UT's Scott Park. With the game square at 11 all after seven innings, the Falcons platted two runs in both the eighth and ninth innings, while senior Nick Cantrell shut the door on the Rocket offense as BG earned its' second-straight win and fourth win in the last five games.
With the victory, the Falcons improved to 17-13 on the year, while the Rockets fell to 9-21.
Leading the way at the dish for BG on the day was sophomore third baseman Derek Spencer. The Oregon, Ohio native went a perfect 4-for-4 on the day, while accounting for four runs scored and four RBI. Included in his four hits were two homers as he belted his fourth and fifth long balls of the week, recording two of the Falcons' five homers in the game.
Spencer was 1-of-5 Falcons to finish the game with multiple-hits as adding two hits each were Andrew Foster, Brian Hangbers, Ryan Shay and Dennis Vaughn. All, except for Foster, would have a homer credited for one their two hits as the Falcons have now gone long 22 times in their six games. Vaughn finished tied with Spencer with a game-high four RBI after pinch hitting for Frank Berry in the sixth.
Gusty winds once again caused havoc for both pitching staffs as nine total homers were hit in the game. Fortunately though for BG, UT wasn't able to keep up as Cantrell (5-3) allowed just two runs (one earned) on a single hit in the final three and 2/3 innings to earn his fifth win of the season.
The Waldo, Ohio native came on in the sixth inning in relief of fellow senior Brett Browning, who relieved starter Dusty Hawk in the fourth. Hawk finished his outing allowing five runs on five hits in three and 2/3 innings of duty, recording three strikeouts.
After the Falcons went down in order in the top half of the first, the Rockets got the scoring started in the bottom half of the inning. With a runner on third and one out, designated hitter Aaron Dudley recorded an RBI groundout to second that gave UT a 1-0 lead as leadoff-man Dan Sherwood came in to score.
BG would answer though in the top of the second with a seven-run inning that chased UT starter Kyle Rawlings from the game. Spencer led-off with a deep homer to left center for his first of two homers in the game just before Hangbers followed with a similar shot two batters later that brought home Berry from first with it to give the Falcons a 3-1 lead.
Four hitters and two outs later, Foster continued to swing his hot bat, driving in two more runs to up the advantage to 5-1. Two batters later then, Spencer collected his second RBI of the inning with a single up the middle that scored Foster as an RBI single through the left side by Berry finally ended the inning's scoring.
Rawlings, who was pulled in the inning tossed one and 1/3 innings, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on six hits. He would be 1-of-5 UT pitchers used in the contest.
Despite the out-burst in the second, the Rockets wouldn't let the Falcons pull away as they came back with four runs in the home half of the second. Catcher Nate McKeon recorded a two-RBI double down the left field line with runners on second and third and was then brought home on a two-run homer to left center by Tim Krofcheck.
After a scoreless third and fourth inning, UT re-gained the lead with three runs in the home half of the fifth to go up 8-7.
That would be the Rockets last lead however, as in the top of the sixth, the Falcon bats awoke again, recording four runs, all via home runs. Shay would slug the first to leadoff the inning, while four hitters later, Vaughn belted a three-run pinch-hit homer over the wall in left center to put BG on top, 11-8.
UT scored one in the bottom of the sixth and two in the home half of the seventh to tie the game at 11 all, before the Falcon bats came through in the clutch.
In the eighth, Vaughn recorded his fourth RBI of the day with a double that scored Spencer from second, who also doubled to leadoff the half of the inning. Chris Gacom later added an RBI-single.
Up 13-11 entering the ninth, Spencer put the icing on his day with a two-run homer to deep center for his seventh of the year, closing the book on the game's scoring.
Pacing UT in the loss was center fielder Drew Hoisington who went 3-for-5 and accounted for three runs scored. Shortstop Jerad Hoying then tied for a game-high four RBI, going 2-for-4 with two homers as UT had four batters finish with multiple-hits.
Taking the loss on the mound for the Rockets was reliever Chris Fields, who gave up four runs on five hits in two innings of work.
BG will return to the diamond on Friday when they host Kent State in game one of a three-game weekend Mid-American Conference series at Steller Field. First pitch between the Falcons and Golden Flashes is set for 3 p.m. ...
