Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
OHIO
Falcons Finish Third at MAC Tournament
May 10, 2008 | Softball
May 10, 2008
AKRON, Ohio - Head Coach Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons fell to the Bobcats, 2-1 in 10 innings in the semi-finals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, finishing third in the tournament. The Falcons ended the 2008 season 19-24 overall and 14-5 in the MAC.
Saturday's semi-final match-up between the Falcons and the Bobcats was the third time the two squared off at the MAC Tournament with the Falcons winning the first meeting, 3-1 and dropping the second match-up, 4-10. The game between the Falcons and Bobcats was an all out battle for 10 innings with both teams scoreless for nine innings.
The Falcon offense got started in the top of the fourth as Allison Vallas singled up the middle to record the first BG hit of the game. The Orange and Brown were able to get runners in scoring position in the top of the fifth and sixth but weren't able to get them across home plate.
Going into the bottom of the seventh inning with the score still, 0-0 the Falcons held the Bobcats to send the game into extra innings as Dawnjene DeLong made a great stop at short stop throwing out the batter at first from her knees to end the inning.
DeLong came right back for the Falcons in the top of the eighth inning from the plate and hit a two out line drive single to left field, extending her hitting streak to 11 games.
In the bottom of the eighth inning junior hurler Hayley Wiemer and the Falcons were able to retire the side, one, two, three.
The Falcons offense got hot in the top of the ninth inning as Vallas smashed her second single of the game up the middle. Fellow senior Emily Gouge followed her up with a single to the right center gap. With one out Missy Bowman was given first base on a walked loading the bases for the Falcons, however the Falcons weren't able to score.
 Dawnjene DeLong led the Falcons with a .385 batting average, posting the eighth best hitting percentage at the MAC Tournament, including five hits and two RBIs. (Photo by Cindy Boso)  |
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Once again for the second straight inning on defense the Falcons were able to retire the first three Bobcats to keep the game going.
In MAC play when a game goes to 10 innings the international tie breaker rules comes into affect, putting the last out for the offensive team on second base. Melissa Bott came in to pinch run for the Falcons at second base. Rachel Delp then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Bott to third base. DeLong then hit a long sacrifice fly to center field to drive home Bott, putting the Falcons on the scoreboard first taking a 1-0 lead over the Bobcats. Susan Sontag came up to the plate hit a two out single up the middle to keep the Falcons going but the Bobcats were able to end the inning before the Falcons could score again.
Going into the bottom of the tenth inning the Falcons were up, 1-0. Wiemer and the Falcons were able to strike out the lead-off batter to get the first out. The Bobcats were then able to the game up, 1-1 on a single to left field with the base runner advancing to second base on the throw home. With a runner on second the Bobcats were able to record another single up the middle to drive home the winning run. The Falcons fell to the Bobcats, 2-1.
The Falcon offense was led by Allison Vallas going two-for-four on the day with two singles. Dawnjene DeLong recorded a single, ending her collegiate career with an 11 game hitting streak, and drove home the Falcons one run on the day. Fellow senior Emily Gouge also recorded a single on the day. Susan Sontag rounded out the Falcons also recording a hit against the Bobcats.
 Emily Gouge led the Falcons with an .833 slugging percentage, the third best at the MAC Tournament and the best of any hitter in the top three teams (Photo by Cindy Boso) |
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As a team Salsburg and the Falcons posted the best opening in the MAC Tournament in program history as no other team has ever won the first two games of the MAC Tournament. The Falcons also had three individuals named to the MAC All-Tournament team Hayley Wiemer, Dawnjene DeLong and Emily Gouge. Wiemer, posted the lowest ERA of any pitcher in the MAC Tournament with 0.56 ERA, allowing only two earned runs in 25.0 innings of work and fanning 11 batters. DeLong led the Falcons with a .385 batting average, posting the eighth best hitting percentage at the MAC Tournament, including five hits and two RBIs. DeLong ended her collegiate career on an 11 game hitting streak. Gouge led the Falcons with an .833 slugging percentage the third best at the MAC Tournament and the best of any hitter in the top three teams. During the tournament Gouge recorded four hits, including two homers and six RBIs. Gouge recorded her first career homer and grand slam at the MAC Tournament.
MAC All-Tournament Team
Abby Gross, Ball State
Hayley Wiemer, Bowling Green
Dawnjene DeLong, Bowling Green
Emily Gouge, Bowling Green
Melissa Bonner, Ohio
Shalene Petrich, Ohio
Michelle Sauter, Ohio
Jessica Toocheck, Kent State
Kylie Reynolds, Kent State
Jamie Fitzpatrick, Kent State -- Tournament MVP
