Falcons Attack Early, Devastate Rockets 9-1

Sunday, April 11

Bowling Green, Ohio

1:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Toledo

Zada Lines smashed her first homer of the 2010 season and was the winning pitcher in both games of the the UT sweep.

Photo by: Doug Sampson

April 11, 2010 | Softball

It was home run central at Meserve Field today (April 11) as three Falcons crushed long balls in the UT sweep

By: byHannah Archer, Athletic Communications Intern

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio—The Bowling Green State University softball squad nailed three home runs today (April 11) in the two-game sweep of the Toledo Rockets. The Falcons defeated the Mid-American Conference rivals 9-1 in just five innings, advancing their record to 8-12 overall and 4-2 MAC. UT falls to 7-26 overall and 1-4 MAC.

Game Two: BGSU vs. UT Box Score

Senior Susan Sontag, junior Zada Lines and freshman Paige Berger each added a homer to their resumes in today's contest. The Falcons scored in each of the four innings they batted, including three runs in the first and four runs in the fourth.

BGSU attacked early, posting five hits that resulted in three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Leading off for the Falcons was Hannah Fulk, who crushed a double to centerfield to jump-start the team's offense. Rachel Proehl advanced Fulk to third on a single, but was tagged out trying to reach second. At the dish next for the Falcons was Andrea Arney who allowed Fulk to score BGSU's first run of the game, with a single to third. Today's first homer of the day was brought to you by BGSU's leading home run hitter, Paige Berger, who smashed her eighth long ball of the season over the left field fence, bringing home Andrea Arney in the process. Karmen Coffey was the last Falcon to record a hit in the first inning with a single down the left field line. A play later she stole second, slinging her 12-of-13 stolen base on the season. BG ended the first inning with a 3-0 lead.

UT sought to fight back, recording a series of three hits that resulted in one run in the top of the second. Undiscouraged, BGSU continued their big-stick streak in the bottom of the inning, recording one more hit and one more run.

Lines was at the dish first for the Falcons, but was served four balls to put her on first. At bat next was Melissa West who tapped down a sacrifice bunt, allowing pinch-runner Courtney Cox to take second, and a play later, reach third on a single to right field by Rachel Proehl. Rocket pitcher, Hannah Rockhold continued to struggle from the circle, walking Andrea Arney to load the bases. With the bases full and Paige Berger at the plate, the Rockets had to pitch carefully to Berger, and the Falcon slugger drew a walk to score Cox with the Falcons' fourth run. Rockhold and the Rockets avoided further damage, but the Falcons had extended their lead to 4-1.

Lines halted any of the Rockets' offensive attempts to narrow the Falcon lead in the top of the third by throwing a perfect inning, striking out the side.

Lines prolonged her perfect inning in the bottom half as she sent a long ball soaring over the left-field fence, posting her first homer of the season and the second of her career. Lines' home run put the Falcons up 5-1 after three.

The Falcon defense kept the Rockets hitless and scoreless in the top of the fourth and went on to put the game away in the bottom of the inning with three hits that resulted in four runs.

Andrea Arney launched BGSU's offense into action with a single to shortstop, just beating the throw by a step. Berger recorded her second hit of the game with a single to left field, advancing Arney to second. The Rockets continued to struggle from the circle and walked Adrienne Dick, allowing the Falcons to load the bases for the third time of the game. At-bat next was Coffey who nailed a sacrifice fly to first, but allowed Andrea Arney to score after she tagged up at third, and Berger and pinch-runner Lindsey Arney to each advance a base. Sontag was at the dish next for the Falcons, who still had two teammates on-base, when she crushed a long ball over the center field fence, bringing home her teammates, recording three RBIs, the third homer of the game and deepening the Falcon lead to 9-1.

With the Falcons leading the Rockets by eight runs, UT had one last-ditch effort to score in order to be able to keep the game going. But, the Falcon defense was too tight for the UT offense as BGSU kept their foes to just one hit and no runs.

Lines was the winning pitcher in both games of the UT sweep, advancing her win-loss record to 4-6. In the five innings of today's contest, she fanned nine batters, walked only two and improved her ERA to 4.47 overall and 1.59 in the MAC.

The Falcons are scheduled to take on Big Ten Conference opponent Ohio State in a doubleheader on Wednesday (April 14) in Columbus. Game one is set to commence at 5:00 p.m.