Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Baseball Wins Fourth-Straight With, 15-5, Win Over Eastern Michigan
May 06, 2008 | Baseball
May 6, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Twelve runs in the first five innings, along with a superb effort on the mound from senior captain Nick Cantrell, helped the Bowling Green State University baseball team to a 15-5 come-from-behind victory over the Eastern Michigan Eagles on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference play at Warren E. Steller Field. Trailing 3-0 heading into the home half of the second, BG tied the game up at 3-3, before going on to score nine runs in the next three innings to blow open a 12-3 lead, as they earned their fourth-straight victory.
With the win, BG improved to 24-18 overall, while the Eagles fell to 17-30.
Cantrell, who was making just his third start of the season for the Falcons on the mound, was brilliant in six innings of work. The Waldo, Ohio native allowed just three runs (one earned) on five hits, while he fanned four EMU batters on way to his seventh win of the year.
Cantrell now stands 7-3 on the year, as his win moved him just one win shy of entering BG's top-10 list for wins in a single-season. He is also now alone in fourth-place on the Falcon career wins list with 18.
The win for Cantrell was only possible though after the Falcons rebounded from a few defensive mishaps in the second that led to the Eagles earning two unearned runs. With two outs and a runner on second and EMU leading 1-0, Todd Graves popped up down the third base line. What turned into a for sure out though, actually turned into a run scored, as the Falcons' third baseman misjudged the landing of the ball and had it bounce in and out of his glove to allow the runner on second to score and keep the inning alive. EMU would tack on another unearned marker when another fielding error allowed Graves to score from third and make it 3-0.
That would be all the runs the Eagles would get till the seventh, as Cantrell rebounded nicely from the mishaps, allowing just three base runners in the next four innings.
With the pitching taking care of the Eagle offense, the Falcons got their bats rolling in the home half of the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, as they jumped out to a big lead.
Ryan Price got the scoring started for the Falcons in the bottom of the second with an RBI-double to right. He was followed in the order by freshman Clay Duncan, who brought home the second run with a RBI-single through the right side, before Mark Galvin tied the game a batter later with an RBI-groundout to second.
BG then took the lead for good in the the bottom half of the third thanks to back-to-back homers from Brandon McFarland and David Borcherdt, which gave the Falcons a 5-3 lead.
The home run parade continued in the fourth when Galvin belted a solo shot to right center on a 1-1 offering for the first of five runs in the frame. Marty Baird then drove in two more runs on a two-RBI triple three batters later to make it 8-3, before scoring on a wild pitch, while Price drew a four-pitch walk with bases juiced to bring in run number five in the inning.
Price finished 1-for-3 on the day with a run scored and two RBI. Leading the way however, was Baird, who finished 3-for-4 at the plate, tying a season-high in hits and RBI as he drove in a game-high four runs. Adding two RBI apiece then were Galvin and Borcherdt as Galvin finished 3-for-6 with a run scored and Borcherdt finished 2-for-4 also with two runs scored.
The fourth inning would be all for EMU starter Jordan Goldschmidt (1-3), who was saddled with the loss after tossing three and 1/3 innings where he surrendered nine runs (eight earned) on 10 hits.
With the Falcons leading 12-3 entering the seventh, the Eagles attempted a rally, as they plated two runs on Falcon reliever Phil Hettlinger to bring the score to 12-5. Brian Hangbers shut the door though in the final two innings, as he allowed just a single hit to close out the game.
BG countered EMU with a run in the home half of the seventh, before adding two more on in the eighth as it earned its' first victory in the series in six contests.
Leading the way for the Eagles on the afternoon was third baseman Zack Leonard, who was 3-for-4 at the dish with a run scored and an RBI. Aaron Powell added two hits and an RBI, while Steve Bradshaw was the only other Eagle to finish with an RBI, going 1-for-4.
The Falcons pounded four total homers in the contest as they now have 43 total homers in their last 18 contests. BG out-hit EMU, 16-8, and stranded eight base runners in the game as EMU turned two double plays.
The two squads will wrap-up their two-game home-and-home series when they head to Ypsilanti, Mich. and EMU's Oestrike Stadium for game two on Wednesday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. as live statistics will be available at www.bgsufalcons.com.
