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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
EASTERN MICHIGAN
Falcons Soar Past Eagles, 6-3 to Secure MAC Tournament Berth
May 03, 2009 | Softball
May 3, 2009
2009 MAC Tournament Bracket in PDF Format 
YPSILANTI, Michigan - Head coach Shannon Salsburg and the Bowling Green State University softball team secured the eighth seed in the 2009 Mid-American Conference Tournament (May 6-9) after defeating Eastern Michigan, 6-3 this afternoon (May 3). Salsburg and the Falcons finished the season 13-31 overall and 8-14 in the MAC.
Although the Falcons and Eastern Michigan both finished 8-14 in conference play, BG won the tie breaker as the Falcons went 1-1 against MAC Tournament #2 seed Kent State while the Eagles went 0-2. The Falcons, the #8 seed in the MAC Tournament will make their third straight appearance at the conference tournament with Salsburg at the helm, their seventh straight appearance overall and the 14th appearance in program history.
This afternoon's match-up between the Falcons and the Eagles was another hard fought battle by both teams but the Orange and Brown bats out hit Eastern Michigan 9-3 to put BG on top.
A one-two punch from senior Hayley Wiemer in the circle and the Falcon defense owned the Eagles in the first four innings as BG was able to retire them in one, two, three fashion in the first, second, and fourth innings. The lone Eagle base runner in the first four innings reached on a Falcon error in the third inning but the BG defense fought back to get the next three batters and end the inning with the Eagles remaining scoreless.
However, the Falcon offense got started right away in the first four innings as freshman Melissa West led-off the game with a single through the right side of the infield. With one out Wiemer kept the Falcons rolling with a singe right back up the middle, but the Falcons weren't able to score before the Eastern Michigan ended the inning.
In the top of the third, the Falcons broke open the scoreless game scoring two runs off of two hits. Wiemer got the Falcons started as she earned a one out walk. Zada Lines followed up with a line drive double to left center putting runners in scoring position on second and third for the Falcons. The Eagles then loaded the bases as Missy Bowman was given first base on a base-on-balls. As Haleigh Bielstein stepped up to the plate she sent a single right back up the middle to drive home two runs to put the Falcons on the scoreboard first, 2-0.
The Falcon bats kept everything going in the top of the fourth inning as West hit a one out line drive single to right center but the Falcons weren't able to score before the inning was over.
The top of the fifth marked another offensive explosion for the Falcons as they scored three runs on two hits and an Eastern Michigan error to extend their lead to, 5-0. Lines sparked the Orange and Brown bats with a lead-off single up the middle. Bowman then reached on an Eastern Michigan error, putting runners in scoring position on second and third for BG. Much like in the third inning Bielstein stepped up to the plate and drove home some runs for the Falcons but this time she crushed a three-run homer to left field to clear the bases and give BG a 5-0 lead over Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles got their second base runner of the game in the bottom of the fifth off of a Falcon error with one out. Eastern Michigan then took advantage as they followed up with a single up the middle, to record their first hit of the game and put runners on first and third. The Falcons were able to get the next two batters but gave up one run on a fielder's choice, making it a 5-1 ball game.
The Falcons kept their offense going in the top of the sixth as West led-off the Falcons with a line drive single to left center, her third hit of the game. Karmen Coffey then reached on a fielder's choice, but she stole second on smart base running as time wasn't called on the field yet. The Falcons were able to move Coffey to third, which was followed up by Lines earning a two out walk to put runners on first and third for BG but the Falcons weren't able to score before the inning was over.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning the Eagles were able to score another run off of a solo home run to left field making it a 5-2 game, but Wiemer fired back to retire the next batter on strikes.
In the top of the seventh, Bowman answered the Eagles homer as she led-off the inning blasting a solo shot to right center to once again give the Falcons a four run lead, 6-2 over the Eagles.
In the bottom of the seventh with one out the Eagles got their first base runner of the inning as she was hit by a pitch. Eastern Michigan then singled to right field to put runners on first and third. The Falcon defense was able to get the next batter but both base runners were able to advance with the Eagles picking up another run, 6-3. With two outs a Falcon error kept the Eagles hopes alive with runners on first and third. The next batter up hit a line drive to Falcon short-stop Coffey who made the catch to end the game, giving the Falcons a 6-3 victory and securing BG's 2009 MAC Tournament berth.
The Falcon bats were hot one again combining for nine hits on the day with five different players recording at least one hit and three posting multiple hit games. Leading the BG offense was West going 3-for-4, recording her seventh multiple hit game of the season and extending her hitting streak to three games which includes three multiple hit games. Also recording multiple hit games were Bielstein and Lines each going 2-for-3 on the day. Bielstein's two hits included a homer, five RBIs and one run scored, while Lines' two hits included a double and two runs scored. Also recording an extra base hit for the Falcons was Bowman with a homer and two runs scored.
The #8 seeded Falcons will take on the #1 seed Ball State on Wednesday (May 6) at 1:30 p.m. at Firestone Stadium, in Akron, Ohio. For up to date information on the MAC Tournament fans can visit the MAC Tournament Central at www.mac-sports.com.
