Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green (3-7-1) and Eastern Kentucky (7-7) will meet in Richmond, Ky. this weekend beginning Friday at 2:00 p.m.
Falcons Set for Trio of Games Versus Eastern Kentucky
March 19, 2010 | Baseball
BGSU game notes
2009 BGSU vs. EKU box score
LIVE STATS
LAST TIME OUT
Bowling Green's annual spring trip took them to Winter Haven, Flor. last week where Mother Nature became a huge obstacle in the second half of the week's action. After four days of perfect weather and a 3-1 record with wins over Northeastern (13-9), Butler (3-1) and Sacred Heart (16-10) the rains came through southern Florida washing out four of the Falcons' final five games. They played five innings of game one in a doubleheader against Yale and made a late fifth inning comeback to tie the game at seven, but the game was called due to heavy rains resulting in a tie. The Falcons finished the tournament 3-1-1 and improved to 3-7-1 on the season. Tuesday's scheduled home-opener with local rival, Findlay University, was canceled to due unsuitable field conditions.
THE SERIES - BGSU v. EKU
Bowling Green and Eastern Kentucky have met 20 times since their first date on the diamond in 1964. The Falcons lead the all-time series against the Colonels, 16-4. The Falcons are 6-1 against the Colonels since 2000 with their only loss coming after a 2-1 pitcher's duel while on their 2004 spring trip in Bradenton, Flor. Last year the Falcons beat EKU in last year's RussMatt Invitational, 8-4. Tyler Elkins and Derek Spencer went for a combined 5-for-8 with four RBI while Richie O'Brien and Charles Wooten shut down the Colonels in the last 3.1 innings, allowing only two hits over that time.
FOLLOW THE FALCONS
Track the Falcons as the 2010 season continues through LIVE STATS through the online home for Falcon athletics, BGSUFALCONS.com
A NEW SET OF “KILLER B'S”
While down in Florida on their spring trip, Jon Berti and T.J. Blanton went a combined 23-for-38 (.605) in five games played. Together they accounted for 16 of the team's 47 runs (34 percent), nine RBI and all seven of BGSU's stolen bases in the RussMatt Invitational.
Berti had three or more hits in four of the five games played and may have went a perfect 5-for-five had their final game not ended early due to the Florida rains when they played Yale (where he went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles). He currently rides a seven-game hit streak, leading the team.
Of Blanton's 11 hits, five were extra-base hits (four doubles, 1 triple). He led the team in total bases (17) and was second in slugging percentage (.850).
COUNT THE FREEBIES
Not only did the Falcons sport an astounding .462 on-base percentage in their five games at the RussMatt Invitational, but did so by way of 64 hits and 32 free passes! The Falcons had 'eagle eyes' all week long and drew 22 walks during the tournament and had seven batters hit for a total of ten times. In their prior six games, the Falcons had only 13 walks and seven hit batsmen. Conversely, the Falcons only allowed 15 walks (3 BB/g) and hit three opposing batters over their five-game stay.
WHAT ABOUT THAT 'PEN!?
In five games during the Falcons' spring trip totally in 41 innings pitched, the bullpen accounted for 48 percent of the work (19.2 innings). The bullpen posted a 4.12 ERA as a whole over the break and collected a 2-1 record with a pair of saves. The pen had a 14-to-5 K:BB ratio over that time as well. Standing out among the rest was Ross Gerdeman who pitched 6.2 innings, allowed only two earned runs (4 total) and struck out five batters. He also earned his first career save against Butler (3/8) after pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Patrick Martin also tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief, striking out four and allowing only one hit in the process.
KEVIN 'LEADYNG' THE WAY
Senior hurler Kevin Leady had a career outing against Butler (3/8) over the break when he tossed eight inning (career-high) of one-run ball, that run coming in the opening frame. After allowing the score in the he kept the Bulldogs scoreless through the next seven innings. He also struck out a career-high nine batters while walking only one. Leady perfectly set up Ross Gerdeman for his first career save in a 3-1 Falcon win.
WHAT OUT FOR THAT SLUGGER!
After the departure of former Falcon Ryan Shay, the Falcons were in need of someone to step up and fill the role of the power hitter. Answering the call has been Derek Spencer who belted two homeruns while in Florida for the spring trip. Spencer hit both of his dingers in consecutive games against Sacred Heart (3/9) and Yale (3/11). His homerun against Yale tied the game in the bottom of the fifth at seven before rain canceled the rest of the day's action. He led the team with a 1.000 slugging-percentage on the spring trip improving to a season average of .559. Of Spencer's 19 total bases this season, 16 came during the last five games in Florida.
WHAT A FIRST(S)!
When freshman Andrew Kuns got his first start of the season as a designated hitter on March 9 against Sacred Heart, who knew his first at-bat would lead to his first collegiate base hit and RBI? In the first inning against SHU with two men on, Kuns hit a double to left field scoring both runners. He finished the day going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
ON DECK FOR THE FALCONS...
After the Falcons take care of business in Richmond, Ky. they will bring the show back to Bowling Green, Ohio for their home opener against Central Michigan University on Wednesday, March 24. Though CMU resides in the Mid-American Conference, the game will not be counted towards the team's conference record and instead will be treated as a non-conference match up.
For the complete release for this weekend's game, download the game notes at the top of the page.
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Friday, May 23
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Saturday, May 03