Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
TOLEDO
Falcons Rally in Seventh to Shutout Arch-Rival Toledo, 1-0, Completing the Two Game Sweep
April 27, 2008 | Softball
April 27, 2008
TOLEDO, Ohio - Head Coach Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons completed the two game sweeping over arch-rival Toledo with a 1-0 shutout on Sunday (April 27) afternoon. Salsburg and company complete their fourth sweep of a Mid-American Conference opponent this season moving to 15-20 overall and 12-3 in the MAC.
The Falcon pitching staff combined threw a two-hit shutout with no Rocket getting past second base the entire seven innings. Junior hurler Hayley Wiemer entered the circle in relief for the Falcons recording her 12th win of the season and remains undefeated in MAC play now 10-0. Wiemer allowed only one hit in three innings of work striking out four batters and walking no one. Emily Gouge started the game for the Falcons keeping the Rockets scoreless in the first four innings also only giving up one hit and striking out one batter.
"Today was a great team win with terrific pitching from Gouge and Wiemer, solid defense and clutch hitting," said Head Coach Shannon Salsburg. "We got fantastic innings out of both Gouge and Wiemer who kept Toledo off balance by mixing and matching. Then late in the game our line-up stepped up with some clutch hits to put us on the board."
Both teams bats were kept quiet the first two innings. The Falcons got their offense going in the top of the third as Dawnjene DeLong smashed a double off the right center field wall to record the first hit of the game for the Falcons.
The Rockets answer back with their first hit of the game as well in the bottom of the third with a double but solid defense by the Falcons kept them scoreless.
The Falcon kept their bats going in fourth inning with a lead-off single from Allison Vallas to left field but weren't able to bring her home.
The Orange and Brown would come close to scoring once again in the top of the fifth after Rachel Delp was given first base on a base-on-balls, which was followed up by a single through the left side by DeLong. Susan Sontag then reached on an error by the pitcher to load the bases but the Falcons were able to move the runner to score.
The Rocket offense started to come alive in the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off single up the middle but Wiemer would retire the side from the circle striking out the next two batters and then throw out the last batter at first to end the inning.
Going into the seventh inning the game still remained, 0-0. The Falcons rallied in the top of the seventh started with a single up the middle from Katelynn Boso. DeLong crushed another line hit through the left side of the field to move Boso who was eventually thrown out at third. With two outs and DeLong on second Sontag blasted a game-winning double up the middle to score DeLong giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead over the Rockets.
The Falcons were able to retire the Rockets in three straight batters as short-stop DeLong threw all three out at first base to give the Falcons a 1-0 victory over Toledo.
Senior Dawnjene DeLong had an impressive day on both ends of the field. She led the Falcons hitting three-for-four with a .750 batting average, including a double and scoring the winning run. On the field DeLong, had one putout and five assists, including an incredible diving play throwing out the runner from her knees in the bottom of the fourth and then retiring the side in the seventh inning.
Allison Vallas, Katelynn Boso and Susan Sontag all record one hit on the day. Sontag hit the game winning double, driving in the only Falcons run.
The Falcons will return to action to finish the 2008 season on the road with a double-header against Ohio on Friday (May 2) and a two game series against Akron on Saturday (May 3) and Sunday (May 4) before the MAC Tournament (May 7-10).
