Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Falcons Split Heartbreaking Doubleheader Against Chippewas
May 01, 2009 | Softball
May 1, 2009
Final Stats - Game One
Final Stats - Game Two
MOUNT PLEASANT, Michigan - Bowling Green State University softball head coach Shannon Salsburg and the Falcons split their last Mid-American Conference doubleheader of the regular season this afternoon (May 1) against Central Michigan winning game one in a 3-0 shutout and dropping a 4-3 heartbreaker in game two.
The Falcons remain in a three-way tie for the final spot in the MAC Tournament and look to secure their berth to the MAC Tournament as they return to action in a two game weekend series against Eastern Michigan. The Falcons and Eagles will face off Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Game one of the doubleheader between the Falcons and Chippewas was a pitchers duel as both teams only gave up five hits in seven innings, but BG ended up on top as two of the Orange and Brown's five hits soared out of the park.
Neither team was able to get anything going in the first inning as they both recorded one, two, three innings.
In the top of the second inning Missy Bowman got the Falcon offense going with a two out single to center field, but the Falcons weren't able to score.
Once again Hayley Wiemer and the Falcon defense made a quick inning of the Chippewas in the bottom of the second with a three-up, three-down inning.
However the Chippewas were able to get their offense going in the bottom of third inning after a lead-off walk and a Falcon error allowed the Central Michigan to put runners in scoring position with one out. The Falcon defense stood strong and got the next two batters to end the inning and keep the Chippewas scoreless.
In the top of the fourth inning the Falcons were able to get their second base runner of the game as Wiemer reached on a Central Michgigan error with one out but BG wasn't able to push across any runs before the Chippewas ended the inning.
The Chippewas were able to record a lead-off single and then advance on a passed ball and wild pitch, but Wiemer retired the next two batters on strikes followed by Karmen Coffey making a great play at short-stop grabbing a line drive and robbing Central Michigan of a hit and a run keeping the game scoreless.
In the top of the fifth inning the Falcons broken the game open scoring two runs on three hits. Bowman led-off the inning and sparked the Falcons with a line drive double to center field, her second hit in as many at-bats. Haleigh Bielstein kept the Falcons rolling and put them on scoreboard first as she followed Bowman up with a two-run homer over the right field fence giving BG a 2-0 lead over the Chippewas. Then with one out Lindsay Arney got the Falcons going once again with a bunt single to Central Michigan's catcher, but the Falcons weren't able to score again before the inning was over.
In the bottom of the fifth inning the Falcons were able to get the first two batters but the Chippewas put together a two out rally with a double to right center followed up by a single to left field putting runners on second and third. The Falcons were once again able to keep the Chippewas scoreless as Wiemer made a great defensive play throwing out the batter at first after defending herself from a hard grounder right back at her.
Neither team was able to get much of anything going offensively in the sixth inning, heading into the final frame with the Falcons ahead, 2-0.
In the top of the seventh inning with one out and the wind blowing out Bowman crushed a homer over the right field wall to give the Falcons an insurance run and a 3-0 lead.
Down 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning the Chippewas had a small ray of hope as they recorded a one out double to right center but the Falcons were able to get the next two batters to end the inning and the game.
In the circle for the Falcons, Wiemer recorded her 10th win and third shutout of the season fanning seven batters in her 22nd complete game of the season.
From the plate Bowman led the Falcon offense hitting a perfect 3-for-3, only a triple shy of the cycle, with a homer, a double, two runs scored and a RBI. Also hitting a long ball for the Falcons was Bielstein, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs. The Falcons other hit came from Arney going 1-for-2 in game one.
Once again in game two of the doubleheader the Falcons scored first in the top of the second inning as Susan Sontag hit a line drive homer over the right field line fence, giving BG an early 1-0 lead. Missy Bowman's bat stayed hot from game one as she kept the Falcons going with a line drive single through the left side of the infield, but BG wasn't able to score again before the inning was over.
A Falcon error and a Chippewa single put runners on first and second for Central Michigan. Then a two out walk loaded the bases for the Chippewas, but Bowman made a great defensive play at first base snagging a line drive to end the inning and keep Central Michigan scoreless.
The Falcon bats kept rolling in the top of the third inning as Melissa West sparked a Falcon rally with a one out single up the middle. Karmen Coffey followed up with a line drive single through the right side of infield to put runners on first and second for BG. Hayley Wiemer then stepped up to the plate and much like other teams in the MAC the Chippewas were extremely cautious staying away from her, however the first pitch was a wild pitch allowing Coffey and West to advance to second and third. Then with first base open the Chippewas gave Wiemer first base on three straight balls. With two outs Sontag then single through the right side of the infield to drive home two runs as Wiemer slid into home safely, giving the Falcons a 3-0 lead. Bowman kept the Falcons going with a single through the left side to once again load the bases, but the Falcons weren't able to push across any more runs before the inning was over.
In the bottom of the third inning the Chippewas scored their first run of the game and the afternoon off of three hits to make it a 3-1 ball game.
In the top of the fourth West got the Falcons started with a two out single through the left side of the infield. A Central Michigan passed ball allowed West to advance to second in scoring position but the inning was over before the Falcons could score.
Despite a Chippewas lead-off single in the bottom of the fourth the Falcons were able to get the next three batters to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning the Chippewas once again stayed away from Wiemer giving her first on a base-on-balls, her third of the game. With one out Sontag kept the Falcons going with a single through the right side of the infield, her third hit in as many at-bats but the Falcons didn't score.
In the bottom of the fifth inning a Falcon error gave Central Michigan a lead-off base runner but Katelynn Boso gunned her down on a steal attempt to get the first out. The Chippewas were able to recorded a double off the left field wall, but once again the Falcons were able to hold Central Michigan, keeping the score 3-1.
The Falcons were able to get one base runner in the top of sixth as Boso reached on a Central Michigan error with one out but the Falcons weren't able to score.
Despite a one out single through the left side of the infield once again the Falcon defense stood strong and ended the inning before Central Michigan could score.
In the top of the seventh the Falcons were only able to record a two out single up the middle from Zada Lines but weren't able to score with the game remaining 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Down 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh the Chippewas didn't give up. A lead-off single followed up by back-to-back singles with one out scored a Central Michigan run making it a one run ball game, 3-2 in favor of the Falcons. BG was able to get the second out of the inning but then a Central Michigan single to right center allowed two runs to score as the Falcons fell to the Chippewas, 4-3.
Despite the loss the Falcons recorded nine hits in game two with five different players recording at least one hit and three with multiple hit games. Leading the Falcon offense in game two was Sontag going 3-for-4 with a homer, three RBIs and one run scored. Also recording multiple hit games were Bowman going 2-for-3 and West going 2-for-4.
