Wiemer Breaks Home Run Record in Falcons' Sweep Over Arch-Rival Toledo

Saturday, March 28

Bowling Green, Ohio

3:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

TOLEDO

Wiemer Breaks Home Run Record in Falcons' Sweep Over Arch-Rival Toledo

March 28, 2009 | Softball

March 28, 2009

Final Stats - Game 1
Final Stats - Game 2

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University softball team lit up the skies over the Meserve Softball Field with five long balls in this afternoon's (March 28) sweep over arch-rival Toledo, 6-4 and 9-1. BGSU head coach Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons are now on three game winning streak, moving to 7-14 overall and undefeated 2-0 in the Mid-American Conference.

The Falcons continued their dominance of the Rockets as they extending their winning steak to nine games overall and five on their home turf. The Falcons also remain undefeated against Toledo during BG's home opening weekend as they are up 10-0 against the Rockets.

The Falcons brought out their big sticks continuing where they left off in their home opener earlier this week as they tallied eight hits in each of their victories over the Rockets. There were numerous milestones at the plate this afternoon as four different Falcons hit at least one ball out of the park. Leading the way was senior Hayley Wiemer crushing two homers in game one of the day, becoming the new all-time home run leader in program history as she hit her 27th and 28th career homers. Wiemer's two home runs in game one marks the fourth time she recorded two home runs in a game. While six other Falcons have record two homers in game she is the only Falcon to do so on four separate occasions. Freshman Melissa West also recorded a big milestone with her first career collegiate homer and grand slam with a walk-off grand slam to end game two. Also smashing long balls were Melissa Bott in game one, her second of the season and Susan Sontag in game two, her first of the season.

From the circle Wiemer picked up both wins for the Falcons now 5-11 overall and 2-0 in the MAC. In two complete games Wiemer gave up no earned runs and struck out a combined seven batters.

"It was nice to get off to a good start in the MAC and see our offense come out the way we did, we were extremely aggressive," said head coach Shannon Salsburg. "Wiemer did a nice job of continually working and making pitches move late in the game."

"Toledo is a good team that puts the ball in play and makes the defense make plays. It was good to see us shut them down when they were able to get something rolling. We will continue to work on cleaning up our defense and look forward to next weekend."

The Falcons will return to action in MAC cross-over play as they take on Western Michigan in a double-header on Friday (April 3) at 1:00 p.m. The Falcons will then travel to DeKalb, Illinois for a two game series against Northern Illinois on Saturday (April 4) at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday (April 5) at 1:00 p.m.

Falcons Outlast Rockets as Wiemer Breaks Home Run Record

The Falcon softball team outlasted the Rockets, 6-4 in game one of the Saturday (March 28) afternoon Mid-American Conference double-header opener.

Hayley Wiemer and the Falcon defense were able to keep the Rockets scoreless for the first five innings with only two players reaching base, one on a Falcon error and the other on a hit. Between Wiemer and a stellar performance by the Falcon defense, BG was able to handle the Rockets in a one, two, three fashion the first three innings. In the bottom of the third Melissa West made an incredible stop to get a Toledo runner at first which was followed up by a sliding catch by Susan Sontag in left field to rob the Rockets once again of hit.

However, the BG offense was aggressive and got started right away scoring in the first, third and fifth inning of game one.

For the third straight game freshman Rachel Proehl led-off the Falcon offense with a single. Back-to-back errors by Toledo's third baseman allowed West and Wiemer to reach base and Proehl to score, giving the Falcons an early 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second inning the BG offense once again got started with a lead-off single as Melissa Bott was able to find a hole in the left side of infield but the Falcons weren't able to score before the Rockets ended the inning.

The Falcons broke open the game in the bottom of third inning with three straight hits to start the inning. West sparked the Orange and Brown bats with a single to left field bring Wiemer to the plate. The Rockets tried to keep the ball away from Wiemer as she was thrown two straight balls but the next pitch Wiemer blasted out of the park in right field giving the Falcons a 3-0 lead and becoming the new career home run leader in BG history. The homer marked Wiemer's fourth of the season and the 27th of her career. Zada Lines kept the Falcon offense rolling as she singled through the left side of the infield. The Rockets were able to get the next two outs, but that didn't stop the Falcon offense. Bott came up to bat with two outs and crushed her second homer of the season over the left field wall to once again clear the bases and give BG a 5-0 lead over Toledo. The Rockets decided to make a pitching change and were finally able to get the third out.

In the bottom of the fourth the Rockets got their first base runner as Lacey LeVier reached on a Falcon error, but her stay on the base patch wasn't very long as she was called out for leaving early at first base to end the inning.

The Falcon offense was kept quiet in the bottom of the fourth as it was a one, two, three inning.

In the top of the fifth Toledo recorded their first hit with a one out single to left field but the Falcon defense was able to get out of the inning with the Rockets remaining scoreless.

The BG offense struck once in the bottom of the fifth inning as Wiemer stepped up to the plate and blast another line drive home run that soared over the center field fence, giving the Falcons a 6-0 lead over the Rockets. Sontag kept the offense going as she singled and then advanced to second on a Toledo error but BG wasn't able to score before the inning was over.

The Rockets rallied in the top of the sixth scoring all four of their runs off of two hits and two Falcon errors. The Falcons were able to get out of the inning still in the lead, 6-4.

In the bottom of the sixth Proehl was able to reach first base on a walk but the Falcons were able to get anything else going.

Heading into the top of the seventh ahead 6-4 the Falcons needed three outs to end the game. The Falcons were able to get the first two batters right away but the next two batters reached on Falcon errors putting the tying run on first base for the Rockets. Wiemer came up strong striking out the next batter with three straight pitches to end the game and give the Falcons a 6-4 win in game one.

The Falcon offense had six different players record a hit in game one, including two players with multiple hit games. Leading the Falcon bats were Wiemer and Bott each going 2-for-3. Wiemer's came up big as her two hits were both out of the park, driving home three RBIs and scoring two runs. Bott also recorded a home run driving home two runs and scoring one run.

West Blasts a Walk-Off Grand Slam to Sweep Toledo

The BG softball defeated Toledo, 9-1 in six innings in game two of today's (March 28) double-header two sweep the Rockets for the fourth straight season.

In game two the Rockets were first to score in the top of the first inning as they scored one run off of a hit and a Falcon error to take an early 1-0 lead over BG.

Falcon led-off hitter Rachel Proehl got the offense going with a shallow hit down the left field line. A great hustle by Proehl allowed her to stretch it into a double putting her in scoring position. Melissa West then reached on a fielder's choice as Proehl was out a third, but heads up base running from West put her on second base. After hitting two home runs in game one the Rockets stayed away from Hayley Wiemer as they gave her first base putting runners on first and second. Toledo was able to get the next two outs of the inning before the Falcons could score with the score staying 1-0 in favor of the Rockets.

In the top of the second Toledo was able to record a one out single and advance to second on past ball but Wiemer and the Falcon defense were able hold them and end the inning.

BG was kept under wraps in the bottom of the second with a one, two, three inning. The Rockets were able to start off the top of the third with a lead-off single to the left side of the infield but once again the Falcons were able to keep Toledo scoreless.

For the second straight game the Falcon sticks broke everything open in the bottom of the third inning. Proehl got the offense going with a one out single to center field. The Rockets were able to get out number two but that brought Wiemer to the plate. With four straight balls Toledo once again gave Wiemer first base on base-on-balls. Zada Lines then singled up the middle to drive home Proehl, tying the game up 1-1. Toledo's center fielder tried to make a play on Proehl at home plate but a throwing error allowed Wiemer and Lines to each move up a base and put runners on second and third for BG. Susan Sontag then came up to the plate with two outs and crushed a long ball over the left field fence to bring home three Falcon runs and give BG a 4-1 lead. The homer marker Sontag's first of the season. Toledo was able to get the last out to end the inning but the damage was done as the Falcons would remain in the lead the rest of the game.

Toledo once again was able to get some offense going in the top of the fourth with a one out double to left center but the Falcons got the next two batters to end the inning.

BG kept their offense going as Karmen Coffey singled up the middle but the Rockets ended the inning before the Falcons could score.

In the fifth inning both teams were able to get one, two, three innings with the Falcons still in the lead, 4-1.

The Toledo offense got going in the top of the sixth with a lead-off single through the right side. However, pinch runner Whitney Young tried to steal second but Falcon catcher Katelynn Boso gunned her down to get the out. The Rockets were able to get another base runner off of a Falcon error. Then with two outs back-to-back singles loaded the bases for Toledo. Once again the Falcon defense stood strong and got the third out to end the inning before the Rockets could score.

The Falcon offense stayed aggressive and finished off the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sontag started off the Orange and Brown with a single to center field, which was followed up by a single to left field from Missy Bowman. The Rockets were able to get the next two outs but that did not stop the Falcon offense. Coffey reached on an error by Toledo which allowed Sontag to score and Bowman to move to third, giving BG a 5-1 lead. Proehl was then given first on four straight balls to load the bases, bringing West to the plate. With two outs, bases loaded and one strike on her, West crushed a walk-off home run to left field, her first career collegiate home run and grand slam, lifting the Falcons to a 9-1 win in game two and the sweep over arch-rival Toledo.

Once again the Falcon sticks were aggressive and on fire as they recorded eight hits with six players recording at least one hit and two players with multiple hit games. Leading the Falcon offense in game two were Sontag and Proehl, each recording an extra base hit. Sontag hit her first homer of the season driving home three RBIs and scoring two runs, while Proehl recorded a double and scored two runs. Also with a big bat for the Falcons was West recording her first career homer and grand slam, driving home a career high four RBIs.