Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
PURDUE
Falcons Break Even with Boilermakers in Home Opener
March 26, 2009 | Softball
March 26, 2009
Final Stats - Game 1 |
Final Stats - Game 2 |
Photo Gallery 
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University softball team officially opened the 2009 season at home this afternoon (March 26) on the newly renamed Meserve Softball Field as they broke even with Purdue dropping game one 17-2 in five innings and bouncing back to defeat the Boilermakers 8-7 in game two, the Falcons second victory over Purdue this season after defeating them at the Buzz Classic 6-5 in eight innings (March 6).
The Falcon bats were alive as they were able record 17 hits between the two games, including two BG milestone home runs, Melissa Bott's first career long ball and Hayley Wiemer's 26th career homer, tying the BG all-time career record.
Before the home opener got underway the BGSU softball family along with other Falcon fans honored Dr. Lee and Marge Meserve and their long time dedication as Falcon fans as they threw out a ceremonial first pitch to kick off BG's home opener and the first game on the Meserve Softball Field.
"Today the second game was a good game for us," said BGSU head coach Shannon Salsburg. "All day we hit but in the first game we gave them way too many opportunities and they came crashing through. Any time you play a Big Ten team during a season and you take two out of three from them, you're going to leave happy. I think it was the first time this year we learned from game one and came back ready to play in game two. There was quite a bit of growth in the second game that we are excited about and looking to push forward and play Toledo."
 Freshmen (L-R) Rachel Proehl and Melissa West led the Falcons offense against Purdue each recording four hits in the double-header  |
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In game one of the home opener double-header the Falcons were able to get their offense going but couldn't quite find their grove on defense. Despite the loss the Falcons were able to put up seven hits and two runs, with five separate Falcons recording at least one hit.
The Purdue bats got start early as they were able to score four runs in the top of the first off of four hits and two Falcon errors.
Rachel Proehl led-off for BG with a single down the left field line but the Falcons weren't able to score before the end of the inning.
The Falcons were able to keep the Boilermaker offense under wraps in the top of the second inning only giving up one hit.
In the bottom of the second inning Zada Lines led-off for the Falcons with a single up the middle, which was followed by Missy Bowman reaching first on a one out walk but BG wasn't able to push across any runs despite runners on first and second.
The Boilermakers struck once again in the top of third scoring five runs off of two hits and two BG errors to extend their lead to 9-0.
The Falcon offense was able to score their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning as Katelynn Boso sparked a BG rally with a one out single to right field. Lauren Rockich then came into pinch run for Boso. Proehl then reached on an error by the Boilermakers to put runners on first and second for the Falcons. West kept the Falcons going with a single to center field advancing both Rockich and Proehl a base, however the Rockich was caught at home plate trying to score giving the Falcons two outs with runners on first and second. Wiemer then stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle, which turned out to be too much for Purdue's centerfielder as Proehl scored off of an error to give the Falcons their first run of the game, 9-1. The Boilermakers were able to get the final out of the inning before the Falcons could score again.
Purdue extended their lead over the Falcons in the top of the fourth as they scored two runs off of two hits and a BG error. The Falcon offense was kept scoreless in the bottom of the fourth inning with the score 11-1 heading into the top of the fifth.
The Boilermakers were able to tack on more runs in the fifth scoring six runs off of three hits and a Falcon error, making it a 17-1 game.
Despite being down the Falcon offense never gave up as Bott led-off the bottom of the fifth inning with solo home run over the left field fence, her first career long ball. Then with two outs Proehl kept the Falcons alive with a single up the middle but the Boilermakers were able to end the inning as BG fell 17-2 in game one.
Leading the Falcon offense in game one was freshman West going 2-for-3, her third multiple hit game of the season. Also recording hits for the Orange and Brown were Proehl, Wiemer, Lines and Bott.
The Falcons were able to put everything together in game two of the double-header as they picked up their second win over the Boilermakers this season with an 8-7 victory. In game two the Falcons recorded their fourth double-digit hit game racking up 10 hits, with six different players recording at least one hit and three players posting multiple hit games.
The Boilermakers were once again able to score first in game two pushing across two runs off of two hits and two BG errors in the first inning.
The Falcon offense also got started right away in game two as Proehl led-off with a single to left center. West then put down a sacrifice bunt to move Proehl into score position at second base. Wiemer reached on a fielder's choice as the Boilermakers were able to get Proehl at third base for the second out of the inning. Lines then singled through the left side to put runners on first and second for BG but Purdue was able to get the final out and keep the Falcons scoreless in the bottom of the first.
Purdue was able to push across two runs on a two out rally in the top of the second inning but West ended the inning with a great play a third base to get the final out for the Falcons and stop the Boilermakers, 4-0.
The Falcons were kept under wraps in the bottom of the second but came out in the top of the third and kept the Boilermakers quiet as well.
The Falcons struck in the third inning as the BG bats came alive to score eight runs off of eight hits, including six straight hits to open the inning. Proehl once again led-off the inning for the Falcons with bunt single, her second hit of the game. Proehl then advanced to second on a Purdue wild pitch. West followed up with a single up the middle to score Proehl putting the Falcons on the board, 4-1. Wiemer came up to bat and crushed a two run homer over the right center fence to give the Falcons two more runs and cutting the Boilermakers lead to one, 4-3. Wiemer's long ball marked her third of the season and 26th career homer tying Gina Rango for the BG all-time career record. Lines kept the Falcon offense rolling as she singled through the left side. Susan Sontag then hit one through the right side for a single to once again put runners on first and second for BG with no outs. Missy Bowman loaded the bases for the Falcons with a single to left field. With the bases loaded Bott came up to the plate and battled a deep count to earn a walk and bring home Lines tying the game up, 4-4. With one out and the bases still loaded Karmen Coffey also had a great at bat, fighting off a 0-2 count to garner a walk bringing home Sontag and giving the Falcons their first lead of the day, 5-4 over the Boilermakers. After walking home two runs Purdue made a pitching change but even that couldn't stop the Falcon bats. With bases still loaded and only one out Proehl returned to the plate and recorded her second single of the inning driving home Bowman and adding to BG's lead, 6-4. Also making her second appearance at the plate of the inning West blasted a double to left center to drive home two more Falcon runs giving BG an 8-4 lead over Purdue. Purdue was able to get the last two outs of the inning before the Falcons could score again but the damage was done as the Falcons were able to put eight runs in the bottom of the third, which would eventually be enough for the victory.
The Falcons were kept scoreless the rest of the game but the Boilermakers were able to score a run in the fifth, sixth and seventh. Although Purdue tried to come back Wiemer and the Falcon defense ended the game, 8-7 in the top of the seventh.
The Falcons recorded their fourth game of double-digit hits with three players having multiple hit games. Leading the way was Proehl going 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Both West and Lines went 2-for-3 and scored a run. West recorded her fifth extra base hit of the season along with three RBIs.
Wiemer picked up both a win and a loss from the circle against the Boilermakers moving to 3-11 on the season.
The Falcons will return to action as they host archrival Toledo in a two game series Saturday (March 28) at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday (March 29) at 1:00 p.m. at the Meserve Softball field. For all fans that can't make it to the live action this weekend Saturday's game against the Rockets will be broadcasted live on BCSN while both games will be live via Gametracker at BGSUFalcons.com
