Falcons Falter on Home Opener, 12-7 to CMU

Wednesday, March 24

Bowling Green, Ohio

3:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Central Michigan University

Bowling Green fell to CMU Wednesday afternoon, 12-7, but will prepare for conference action this weekend versus Northern Illinois.

March 24, 2010 | Baseball

By: by Ryan Gasser, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Box score
Post game comments from head coach, Danny Schmitz
Photo gallery

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Bowling Green fell to a conference opponent in a non-conference game on Wednesday as the team took to the diamond at home for the first time this season. The Falcons fell behind early surrendering four runs in the first inning, before gradually chipping away at the Central Michigan lead and ending the game with a 12-7 loss.

Twenty-one Falcons saw game action in their first game at Warren E. Steller field in the loss, including six freshman. One such freshman received his first collegiate start as Cody Apthorpe (0-2, 15.00) took to the bump. He went three innings, surrendering six runs -- four earned -- on five hits while striking out a pair.

Apthorpe's first inning allowed CMU to take a 4-0 advantage after Nate Theunissen and William Arnold both hit two-RBI base knocks against the freshman. Theunissen's two-run double marked the first runs of the game while Arnold followed shortly with a two-run single, scoring Theuniessen and teammate Tyler Kipke.

Central Michigan scored a run in each of Apthorpe's next two innings of work, though only one of those runs were earned. In the second inning, an error by Jon Berti put Robbie Harman on base, only to later score while the Falcons completed a 6-3 double play. The Chippewas tacked on one more in the third inning when Arnold hit a run-scoring double, increasing the lead to 6-0.

Bowling Green scored a run in each of their next three trips to the plate, beginning in their half of the third inning. Jon Berti reached first after a routine ground ball to second turned into an error when CMU first baseman Nate Theunissen dropped the throw. After a balk was called on CMU starting pitcher Rick Dodridge, Logan Meisler ripped a line drive single to left field, scoring Berti. After three, the Falcons trailed 6-1.

After hitting his sixth home run in Tuesday's contest against West Virginia, #T.J. Blanton# continued his hot streak at the plate with an RBI single in the fourth inning, plating Mark Galvin. After trouble loomed for Dodridge, he was replaced on the bump by Bryce Morrow. After he allowed a single to the second base side to load the bases, Morrow forced Matthew Pitzulo to ground out to second, ending the inning.

In the top of the fifth inning, Central Michigan added two more runs after having an earlier threat in the inning eliminated. After a successful strike-out, throw-out retired the first two Chippewa batters, CMU rallied with two down started by catcher Dale Cornstubble's double down the left field line. After a single and an error by BG center fielder T.J. Blanton allowed a run to score and put a second runner on second base, William Arnold again rose to plate home another run off of his second single of the day.

After the Falcons added one run in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring for the third straight frame, the score stood at 8-3.

Central put four more runs on the board in the top of the seventh off of reliever Charles Wooten. Back-to-back doubles by Theunissen and Cornstubble scored one run. With the bases loaded following another single and a hit batsman, an error on Jon Berti allowed two more runs to score. One final RBI single by Brendan Emmett scored the fourth run of the inning, driving the score to 12-3.

Bowling Green did not go down without showcasing some pop from the batter's box. After the seventh inning stretch, the Falcons scored three times to half the CMU lead, 12-6.

Brandon McFarland pinch hit for Logan Meisler and began the inning with a leadoff single to left field, followed by Ryan Schalter's single to cent. After Andrew Kuns was hit by a pitch, Derek Spencer plated three of his four RBI on a three-run double to deep center field.

The Falcons had an opportunity to lessen the Central Michigan lead with runners on second and third in that same inning, but an alert defensive play by CMU shortstop Robbie Harman. After fielding a grounder hit his way by Clay Duncan, Harman threw the ball to the plate catching Derek Spencer between third and home. Upon tagging out Spencer, catcher Dale Cornstubble threw back to second base where Mark Galvin was then tagged out, taking both runners off the base paths. The inning ended with the CMU lead stuck at six.

Bowling Green added one more run in the eighth inning. After Taylor Rhoades entered the game as a pinch hitter in his first collegiate at-bat, the freshman hit a double down the left field line. After advancing to third on a ground ball out, Brandon McFarland got his second hit of the day on a double down the right field line, scoring Rhoades and making the score 12-7.

Though Michael Frank and Dan Parsons combined for two perfect innings of relief, Bowling Green would score no more resulting in a 12-7 defeat to the Chippewas.

After the loss, Bowling Green falls to 6-9-1 on the season. Their first Mid-American Conference action comes this weekend against Northern Illinois, when the Falcons will host the Huskies here at Warren Steller Field. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, beginning a three-game set with NIU. Saturday and Sunday will both feature 1:00 p.m. first pitches.

Follow the Falcons this weekend and all season long through the online home for BGSU Athletics, BGSUFalcons.com. This weekend's games will all be broadcast by the Bowling Green Sports Radio Organization through either WBGU 88.1FM or WFAL Falcon radio. Gameday Central will also be in full swing directly linking you with live stats, up-to-date statistics and links to all the coverage for Bowling Green baseball.