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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Earn #3 Seed in the MAC Tournament
May 06, 2008 | Softball
May 6, 2008
Complete Release (22 pages) in PDF Format 
AKRON, Ohio - Head Coach Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons earned the #3 seed in the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Firestone Stadium (May 7-10) after finishing second in the MAC East division, 17-22 overall and 14-5 in the MAC. This will be the Falcons' 13th appearance in program history, sixth consecutive and second straight with Coach Salsburg at the helm in the MAC Tournament. The Falcons will travel to Akron, Ohio to take on the Ohio Bobcats at Firestone Stadium on Wednesday, May 7 with the first pitched scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
FALCONS LIVE FROM FIRESTONE STADIUM
For all Falcon fans that can't make it to the live action at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio the Falcons will be live via the internet for the entire weekend. Live updates for the MAC Tournament will be available on GameTracker by visit the tournament central at www.MAC-Sports.com. Fans can also find updates on the Falcons journey through the MAC Tournament by visiting www.BGSUFalcons.com.
2008 MAC TOURNAMENT
Firestone Stadium: Akron, Ohio
Wednesday, May 7
Game 1 - No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 Western Michigan - 11 a.m.
Game 2 - No. 1 Kent State vs. No. 8 Akron - 1:30 p.m.
Game 3 - No. 2 Central Michigan vs. No. 7 Ball State- 5 p.m.
Game 4 - No. 3 Bowling Green vs. No. 6 Ohio - 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 8
Game 5 - Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser - 11 a.m.
Game 6 - Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner - 1:30 p.m.
Game 7 - Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner - 5 p.m.
Game 8 - Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 9
Game 9 - Game 7 Loser vs. Game 5 Winner - 11 a.m.
Game 10 - Game 8 Loser vs. Game 6 Loser - 1:30 p.m.
Game 11 - Game 6 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner - 5 p.m.
Game 12 - Game 7 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 10
Game 15 - Championship - 3 p.m.
BGSU IN THE MAC TOURNAMENT
The Falcons are appearing in the MAC Tournament for the sixth consecutive season, the ninth time in the last 11 years, and the 13th time in school history ... this year marks the 18th MAC Tournament ... a league tourney was held each year from 1982-86 before a hiatus of nearly a decade (the tournament resumed in 1996, but that year's tourney was suspended in the third game due to inclement weather) ... Bowling Green has compiled an all-time tourney mark of 20-23, including a 5-1 record and the school's first MAC Tournament championship in 2004 ... the last two years, the Falcons were 2-2 ... BGSU has gone 1-2 on six of the 12 occasions the Falcons have qualified ... BG was 1-2 in the first four trips, 0-2 in 1999 and 3-2 (with a runner-up finish) in 2000 ... the Falcons posted a 1-2 mark at the 2001 tourney, and again won one of three games in 2003 ... BG participated in the league tourney in 1982, 1985 and 1986, prior to the four-year run from 1998-2001 ... the Falcons just missed making the tourney in `02, but now have qualified in each of the last six seasons ... a complete game-by-game listing, with opponent, result and scores, can be found in the pdf version of this release.
FALCONS IN 2008
Head Coach Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons will enter the 2008 MAC Tournament with a 17-22 overall record and 14-5 record in the MAC, good for a second place finish in the East division and the #3 seed overall. The Falcons finished the season with a shutout sweep over Akron, out hitting the Zips, 20-1. The Orange and Brown defended their home turf posting an 8-1 record at the BGSU Softball field and went 9-9 on the road.
MATCH-UPS ON THE DIAMOND
Ohio - Bobcats (5/7 - 7:30 p.m.)
The Falcons will match-up against #6 seed Ohio for their first opponent in the MAC Tournament ... the Bobcats finished the season 25-24 overall and 10-12 in the MAC, fourth in the East division ... the Falcons lead the all-time series 49-34 over the Bobcats ... the Falcons have won 11 of the last 15 meetings ... the Orange and Brown lead the Bobcats in MAC Tournament with a 2-1 record ... the last meeting between the two this season was a double-header in Athens, Ohio (May 2) where the Falcons fell to the Bobcats, 8-0 and 3-2.
BGSU vs. Ohio in the MAC Tournament
1986 Ohio defeated BGSU, 3-2 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
2001 BGSU defeated Ohio, 6-1 (10 inn.) in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
2006 BGSU defeated Ohio, 3-0 in Midland, Mich.
Akron - Zips
Akron finished the season 19-36 overall and 8-14 in the MAC, fifth in the East division earning the #8 seed ... the Falcons are on a five game winning streak and lead the all-time series 41-20-1 over the Zips ... since the millennium the Falcons have only lost five out of the last 19 games against the Zips ... the Falcons wrapped up the 2008 season against the Zips with their fifth sweep over a MAC opponent ... the Falcons shutout the Zips, 8-0 in a no hitter by Hayley Wiemer and 9-0 in a one hitter by Emily Gouge ... in the two game sweep the Falcons out hit the Zips 20-1.
BGSU vs. Akron in the MAC Tournament
2000 BGSU defeated Akron, 2-0 in DeKalb, Ill.
2006 BGSU defeated Akron, 4-0 in Midland, Mich.
Ball State - Cardinals
Ball State finished the season 34-30 overall and 9-11 in the MAC, third in the West division earning the #7 seed ... the Falcons have won 19 of the last 22 meetings between the two teams and are on a 15 game winning streak against the Cardinals with their last loss to Ball State in 2002 ... the Falcons lead the all-time series 46-27 over the Cardinals ... earlier this season the Falcons swept the Cardinals in a two game series in Muncie, Indiana (3-0, 8-4), earning BG's first sweep of an opponent.
BGSU vs. Ball State in the MAC Tournament
1982 BGSU defeated Ball State, 1-0 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
2001 Ball State defeated BGSU, 3-2 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Central Michigan - Chippewas
Central Michigan finished the season atop the West division earning the #2 seed in the MAC Tournament, 25-18 overall and 14-7 in the MAC ... the Chippewas are one of two West division opponents that lead the Falcons in the all-time series 16-63 ... the Falcons defeated the Chippewas at the BGSU Softball Field earlier this season, 7-6 in eight innings ... game two of the series was canceled due to weather.
BGSU vs. CMU in the MAC Tournament
1982 CMU defeated BGSU, 5-2 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
1985 CMU defeated BGSU, 7-3 in Toledo, Ohio
1986 CMU defeated BGSU, 12-2 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
1998 CMU defeated BGSU, 8-3 in Akron, Ohio
2000 CMU defeated BGSU, 9-4 in DeKalb, Ill.
2003 CMU defeated BGSU, 3-0 in Akron, Ohio
2004 BGSU defeated CMU, 3-0 in Akron, Ohio
2007 CMU defeated BGSU, 2-0 in Midland, Mich.
Kent State - Golden Flashes
Kent State was crowned the regular season MAC and East champion posting a 40-10 overall record and a 20-2 record in the MAC, earning the #1 seed in the tournament ... the Golden Flashes are the only MAC East division opponent to lead the Falcons in the all-time series (41-49-1) and one of two league opponents to lead the series against the Falcons with Salsburg at the helm ... earlier this season Salsburg's squad split with Kent State ... the Falcon's 8-5 victory over the Golden Flashes was the first win of the season for BG, while they dropped game two 3-2 to Kent.
BGSU vs. Kent State in the MAC Tournament
1998 Kent State defeated BGSU, 11-1 in Akron, Ohio
1999 Kent State defeated BGSU, 2-1 in DeKalb, Ill.
2004 BGSU defeated Kent State, 6-0 in Akron, Ohio
2006 Kent State defeated BGSU, 3-2 in Midland, Mich.
Miami - RedHawks
Miami finished the season 23-25 overall and 13-9 in the MAC, third in the East division behind BG earning the #4 seed ... the Falcons own the all-time series 50-36 ... the Falcons and RedHawks split the double-header earlier this season with the Falcons capturing game one 8-3 giving Miami their first loss in the MAC and the RedHawks picking up game two 3-11.
BGSU vs. Miami in the MAC Tournament
2004 BGSU defeated Miami, 1-0 in Akron, Ohio
2004 BGSU defeated Miami, 3-4 in Akron, Ohio
2005 Miami defeated BGSU, 2-1 in Akron, Ohio
Western Michigan - Broncos
Western Michigan finished the season 19-16 overall and 10-8 in the MAC, second in the West earning the #5 seed ... the Broncos are one of the two teams in the MAC West to lead the Falcons in the all-time series, 28-40 ... earlier this season the Falcons wrapped up their 10 game home stand as they swept the Broncos (2-1, 2-1) in a two game series.
BGSU vs. WMU in the MAC Tournament
1982 WMU defeated BGSU, 7-1 in Kalamazoo, Mich.
2004 WMU defeated BGSU, 3-0 in Akron, Ohio
2004 BGSU defeated WMU, 8-6 in Akron, Ohio
2005 BGSU defeated WMU, 4-0 in Akron, Ohio
2006 WMU defeated BGSU, 2-1 in Midland, Mich.
2007 BGDU defeated WMU, 5-2 in Midland, Mich.
NO RUNS FOR YOU
The Falcons shutout the Zips (May 4) in double-header to end the regular season. Junior Hayley Wiemer pitched an 8-0 no hitter in game one, while senior Emily Gouge pitched a 9-0 one hitter in game two. The Falcons out hit the Zips 20-1 on the day.
FALCON HOME RUN DERBY
The Falcons finished the 2008 season with a home run derby of their own hitting seven homers in the last weekend of the play, blasting two long balls against Ohio and five against Akron. The Falcons have hit five or more homers in a week of play on four different occasions. The Falcons started off the season knocking five out the park in the first weekend of play at the Chattanooga Classic, then they six homers and five homers in back-to-back weeks in April.
WIEMER TOP IN THE NATION
Hayley Wiemer is not only at the top of the MAC but also ranked at the top of the nation in multiple categories. Wiemer is the most walked player in the MAC as well as the fourth most walked player in the nation. She also finds herself ranked in pitching categories as the top pitcher in the MAC and the 13th in the nation for the fewest walks allowed per seven innings as she averages only giving up 0.99 walks per game. Other categories that Wiemer is ranked in the top 100 in the nation are on base percentage as she leads the MAC and is 58th in the nation (0.484) and home runs as she is third in the MAC and 77th in the nation (0.23 per game).
As a team the Falcons are ranked in the top 100 of nation in two categories. The Orange and Brown are 66th in doubles averaging 1.29 doubles per game and 81st in home runs averaging 0.63 per game.
NO CLOWNING AROUND
Between freshman Katelynn Boso's unique last name and bubbly personality she makes people laugh but there is no clowning around when it comes to her play on the field. Boso is currently on a six game hitting streak and has now hit four homers on the season, two alone in the double-header against Akron (May 4) to closeout the regular season. She recorded her first collegiate grand slam and homer against Ball State (April 6) lifting the Falcons to an 8-4 victory over the Cardinals. Behind the plate for the Falcons she has recorded 229 putouts and caught 13 runners stealing on the base path.
SHE'S A 10 AND SOME
Falcon's short stop #10 Dawnjene DeLong is definitely a 10 in any score book. DeLong is currently on a seven game hitting streak, recording 12 hits in the last seven games with four multiple hit performances. DeLong is also a scoring machine for the Orange and Brown as she has driven home at least one run and scored at least one run in the last three games.
CAREER HOME RUN RACE
Falcon big guns Allison Vallas and Hayley Wiemer were neck-in-neck last season as they were in the race for the BGSU single season home run record, which Wiemer now holds. Both veterans are now in the race for the BGSU career home run record. The record is currently held by Gina Rango with 26 career homers. Wiemer now has the second most career long balls (23) after crushing two homers against Akron (May 4), which is the second this season she has hit two homers in a single game. Vallas has the third most career long balls (17) after hitting her fifth homer of the season against Central Michigan (April 12). Vallas' two long ball performance against Eastern Michigan (April 11) made her the sixth Falcon to hit two homers in a game joining Wiemer who has done so three times, twice this season and once last season.
WALK IT OUT WIEMER
Junior Hayley Wiemer is known for her big stick making opposing pitchers think twice about throwing to her as she is the most walked player in the Mid-American Conference and fourth most walked hitter in the nation as she has been given first base 33 times, setting a new BGSU single season record for walks. Wiemer is now the all-time most walked Falcon as she has been given first 83 times in her career.
THE FALCON RALLY CAW
Most opponents think when they have two outs in an inning, the inning is just about over but when the Falcons are at the plate they are only getting started. The Falcons have scored 59 of their 119 RBIs on two-out rallies.
ROOKIE BATS ON HOT STREAK
The Falcon rookies' bats have gotten hot as all of the eight freshman have recorded at least one hit while combined they have totaled 89 of the Falcons' 240 hits. The seniors are the only class to have more hits than rookies as they have combined for 101 of the Falcons hits.
APRIL "REIGN" BRINGS MAC WINS
The April "reign" has brought with it the blooming of MAC wins for the Falcons. The Falcons ended the month of April 14-3 overall, 11-2 in the MAC and 8-1 at home in the month of April. The Falcons look to carry this momentum into the month of May with the blooming of a MAC Championship.
FALCONS AGAINST THE MAC EAST
The Falcons have dominated their MAC East division foes as they own all but one all-time series record. The Falcons lead Akron (41-20-1), Buffalo (14-3), Miami (50-36) and Ohio (49-34). The only team in the MAC East division to lead the Falcons is Kent State (41-49-1). In the MAC West division the Falcons lead four out of the six opponents in the all-time series. The Orange and Brown lead Ball State (46-27), Eastern Michigan (46-34), Northern Illinois (19-13) and arch-rival Toledo (54-33). The only two West teams to lead the Falcons are Central Michigan (16-63) and Western Michigan (28-40).
SALSBURG AGAINST THE MAC
In two seasons at the helm of the Falcons Salsburg holds a record of 28-11 in league play. In her two seasons Salsburg owns or tied nine of the 11 series in MAC. Salsburg and company lead Akron (2-0), Ball State (4-0), Buffalo (2-0), Central Michigan (2-1), Miami (4-1), Northern Illinois (3-1), Toledo (4-0) and Western Michigan (3-1), and are tied with Ohio (2-2). The only two teams to lead the Salsburg's squad are Eastern Michigan (2-3) and Kent State (1-4).
WIEMER'S PERFECT CIRCLE EARNS HER MAC EAST PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Junior tri-captain Hayley Wiemer, Sylvania, Ohio native, was named Mid-American Conference East division Pitcher of the Week announced by the conference office (April 29), after recording three wins in two starts this weekend. Wiemer has garnered MAC East Pitcher of the Week honors once earlier this season and once as a sophomore. Wiemer still remains undefeated from the circle in MAC play now 10-0 and 12-4 overall. In league play she is not only undefeated but has the most wins and fewest loses, is currently ranked 13th in the nation allowing only 0.99 walks per seven innings and has recorded three shutouts (one combined) retiring 60 batters in 66.1 innings with a 2.01 ERA. Wiemer started off the week with a 2-1 victory over Big Ten opponent Michigan State as she gave up only one earned run striking out four batters only walking one in seven innings. The Falcons then returned to MAC play as Wiemer got her second start of the week against Toledo striking out eight batters, tying her season high, and once again only giving up one walk in seven innings of work. In game two of the series against the Rockets Wiemer came in relief for the Falcons striking out four batters in three innings only giving up one hit allowing. For the week Wiemer earned three victories, struck out 16 batters in 17.0 innings of work, giving up only two walks with an ERA of 1.65.
STATE RIVALRY, OHIO VS. MICHIGAN
The BGSU softball team has won their last eight games against teams that hail from the state of Michigan. In the month of April the Falcons were 8-1 against teams from Michigan defeating the last three teams by a one run margin, 2-1.
FALCON SPRING CLEANING IN BG
Head Coach Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons got their spring cleaning started on their 10 game home stand as the swept three out of four of their opponents at the BGSU Softball. The Falcons start with sweeping Eastern Michigan in the 2008 double-header home opener (3-0, 9-4). Salsburg and company then moved on to another Michigan opponent Detroit Mercy taking two from them (5-0, 9-1). The only opponent to squeeze by and split with the Falcons was Northern Illinois (5-2, 2-3). Salsburg's squad finished their spring cleaning as they swept their third team from Michigan, Western Michigan (2-1, 2-1). The Falcons also defeated Central Michigan (7-6) at the BGSU Softball Field, however game two of the two game series was canceled due to weather.
GOUGE NO LONGER #12
Senior hurler Emily Gouge isn't changing uniform numbers, however she struck out a career high 15 batters against Northern Illinois (April 18). Gouge's former career high was 12 strike outs against St. Bonaventure (March 3, 2007).
VALLAS' BIG STICK EARNS MAC EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK & SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Senior tri-captain Allison Vallas, Perrysburg, Ohio native was named Mid-American Conference East Player of the Week as announced by MAC offices (April 15) and MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week (April 17). Vallas was garnered MAC East Player of the Week earlier this season and two other times in her career. She started the week posting one of the two Falcon hits against #6 Michigan's Jordan Taylor, the second best pitcher in the nation with an ERA of 0.49. In game two of BG's double-header home opener against Eastern Michigan, Vallas went a perfect three-for-three with a 3.000 slugging percentage, including to homers that soared over the right field fence, a single and four RBIs. She became only the sixth Falcon to record two homers in a single game. Vallas brought her big stick once again as she went two-for-four with a 1.250 slugging percentage, including a three-run homer and four RBIs against Central Michigan. In the bottom of the eighth Vallas hit a single up the middle to drive in the game-winning run giving the Falcons a 7-6 victory over the Chippewas. For the second straight weekend Vallas was intentionally walked, her third of the season and her career. On the week Vallas went 6-for-13 with a .462 batting average and a 1.154 slugging percentage including three homers and eight RBIs. Defensively she recorded 37 putouts and two assists with only one error for a .975 fielding percentage.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
After 23 straight games on the road to open the 2008 season the Falcons returned home to post the best opening record in program history. The Falcons opened their home schedule with a 6-0 record. The Falcons winning streak at home ended in an extra inning battle against the Huskies (April 18). Salsburg's squad passed the 5-0 opening record that the 1991 squad set at home. The Falcons have out scored their 2008 opponents 42-17 on their home field.
FEAR THE "V"
Falcons' clean-up hitter Allison Vallas is feared among other Mid-American Conference pitching staffs, which was obvious as she has been intentionally walked by two of the last three MAC opponents. Ball State intentionally walked her twice as the Falcons swept the Cardinals in a two game series (April 5 & 6), which was the first time in her career being intentionally walked. Vallas was intentionally walked against Central Michigan in BG's 7-6 extra inning victory. Vallas' .341 batting average, 24 RBIs and 31 hits leads the Falcon offense.
FALCONS IN HOME OPENERS
The Falcons are 18-12 on home openers in program history after sweeping Eastern Michigan. Since the millennium change, BGSU is 5-4 in their home debut. On Friday (April 11) eight rookies made their debut to a home crowd on the BGSU Softball Field.
ALL "HAIL"EY WIEMER, MAC EAST PITCHER OF THE WEEK & MAC SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Hayley Wiemer, Sylvania, Ohio native, was named Mid-American Conference East division Pitcher of the Week and MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week announced by the conference office April 8, after recording three wins in three against Miami and Ball State. Wiemer led the Falcons to an 8-3 win over the undefeated RedHawks, giving them their first loss in the MAC. She topped her performance in her next two outings from the mound sweeping Ball State in a 3-0 shutout on Saturday (April 5) and an 8-4 victory on Sunday (April 6). In the shut out against the Cardinals, Wiemer allowed only one batter to reach first base in the first three innings on a base-on-balls, with no runner getting past second base the entire game. For the weekend Wiemer struck out 14 batters in 18.1 innings of play posting a 2.29 ERA. Wiemer is now 4-3 overall and 4-0 in the MAC from the circle.
A DAY AT THE SPA FOR ARNEY
Freshman centerfielder Lindsay Arney got a free mud bath in Muncie, Indiana (April 5), however she didn't make the typical trip to the spa for it. In game one of the two game series against Ball State the Falcons were up 3-0 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. With two-outs, runners on first and second and the tying run stepping up to the plate Arney made a diving catch in front of her to end the game and give the Falcons their first of two victories in their sweep over the Cardinals. Arney not only came up with the ball but a free mud bath as the front of her uniform was caked in mud.
ALL THINGS BIGGER IN TEXAS
Freshman Haleigh Bielstein, a native of Inez, Texas hit her first collegiate homer in the Falcons 8-5 win over Kent State. The three-run long ball to center field was the eighth for the Falcons as a team this season and tied junior Hayley Wiemer's three-run homer for the most RBIs on one hit.
FREQUENT FALCON MILES
The Falcons opened the 2008 season like every other season in program history on the road. However, the difference this year is that the Falcons will play 27 road games before their season opener on the BGSU softball field, which is the longest opening road trip in program history. The Falcons will rack up an estimated 7,022 miles to compete in seven different states, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Michigan, New York, Indiana, and in other areas of Ohio before returning to Bowling Green April 11 for their home opener.
VALLAS CONTINES TO PICK-UP HONORS
Allison Vallas picked-up MAC East Player of the Week honors (Mar. 12) for her performance at the War Eagle Classic where she was named to the All-Tournament team. Vallas opened the 2008 season with an eight game hitting streak and has record at least one hit in eight of the nine games for the Falcons with a season high three hits and three RBIs against Lipscomb (Mar. 7).
VALLAS NAMED TO WAR EAGLE CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Senior Allison Vallas was named to the War Eagle Classic All-Tournament team after posting .417 batting average and .667 slugging percentage for the weekend. Vallas tallied five hits in 12 at-bats, including a double, a triple and three RBIs.
