Tuesday, April 13
Bowling Green, Ohio
3:00 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
6
vs
5
Cleveland State University
Jon Berti swiped two bases, scored the winning run and had a pair of hits in the Falcons' 6-5 win in extra innings versus Cleveland State on Tuesday.
It Takes Ten But Falcons Sink the Vikings, 6-5
April 13, 2010 | Baseball
Box score
Updated Statistics
Post game comments from head coach Danny Schmitz
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Bowling Green saw highs and lows in their ten-inning win against the Cleveland State Vikings (8-20), 6-5, on Tuesday afternoon. Despite #T.J. Blanton#'s 21-game hitting streak being snapped by the Vikings pitching staff, the Falcons came back from a one-run deficit in the eighth inning to tie the game and send the game into extra innings where Tyler Elkins drove in the winning run on his second RBI of the day sending the Falcons home with a big non-conference win.
After Cleveland State scored four unanswered runs in the middle frames and took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth, Bowling Green played its patented “small ball” style and scored the tying run on Elkin's second of three hits on the day. Derek Spencer lead the top of the eighth inning off with a single down the left field line and was advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from five-hitter Jon Berti. Spencer moved to third base on a ground out to the right side and with two outs, Elkins drove in his first run of the day with a seeing-eye single that squirted its way through the middle of the infield. With Spencer's run, the Falcons tied the game at five runs and took it to the ninth.
Freshman relief pitcher Patrick O'Brien pitched a one-two-three ninth inning in a long relief stint, but after an unsuccessful ninth inning for the Falcon offense the game was decided in the tenth frame.
Berti was kept busy defensively at shortstop in the tenth. Cleveland State's Chuck Gasti hit leadoff single but was caught stealing second base when Ryan Schlater pegged Gasti at second with Berti applying the tag to clear the bases. Berti then covered the entire left side of the infield on a pop out that he fielded in foul territory on the third base side for the inning's second out. The sophomore was then called upon to force out number three when CSU's leading hitter, Kyle Shaffer, grounded sharply to Berti deep in the hole but his strong arm fired a strike to first in time for the third out.
In the bottom of the tenth inning, Berti got busy at the plate with a one-out single to center field to pace the inning. Berti's speed allowed him to swipe his team-leading 14th base of the year, putting him in scoring position. After a CSU error allowed Schlater to reach base and runners stood on first and second base, Elkin's came to the plate ready to end the game once and for all. On a 1-2 offering, Elkins sent a shot down the left field line and rolled all the way to the left field corner, resting up against the wall at Warren Steller Field long enough for Berti to score from second and give the Falcons the win, 6-5.
Nick Bruns took to the hill for the Falcons and through six innings the freshman was ready to replicate what senior Kevin Leady had done two days prior. In six innings, Bruns allowed only three hits and struck out five batters, but had only walked one. With a 4-2 lead in the seventh, the Vikings tied the game when the inning began with a Falcon error resulting in two bases. A high fly ball straddled the line in right field and Schlater attempted to make a play on the ball but it hit off of the heel of his glove and bounced foul. The ball was ruled fair by the field umpire being judged that the ball was touched while still in fair territory, resulting in an error and two bases for the CSU hitter, Shaffer. The following pitch was hit into center field, scoring Shaffer and making it a one-run game. A sacrifice bunt and a double by Brent Casto scored the tying run before Bruns gave way to O'Brien for the rest of the day.
Bowling Green's big inning took place in the bottom of the third when the Brown and Orange scored three times to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Starting catcher and Bowling Green, Ohio native, Matt Vannett jump-started the inning with a leadoff double and scored on the following pitch when Logan Meisler drilled a single through the middle. After a Dennis Vaughn single put runners at first and second, Derek Spencer added another base knock that scored Meisler from second and pushed both runners into scoring position on the throw to third base. After Vaughn was caught stealing home on an attempted suicide squeeze play, Spencer scored from third base on a wild pitch by CSU starter Tim Clark.
T.J. Blanton finished 0-for-5 on the day, snapping his 21-game hit streak. At 21 games, Blanton now sits second all-time in BGSU history for longest hitting streak, behind Mike Combs (dates) who peaked at 25 games as a Falcon in 2001.
Elkins three hits, two doubles and two RBI made him the game's most valuable player and easily marks his best performance of the season. His three hits and two ribbies mark season highs for the senior. Berti went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases on the day. O'Brien (2-2) earned his second win of the year after tossing 3.2 innings of relief into the game-deciding tenth inning. He finished allowing only three hits, one unearned run and striking out three Viking batters. Despite the no-decision, Bruns put in a solid effort, throwing 6.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs (three earned) and striking out five.
Bowling Green (9-17-1) will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. Wednesday night to play the Michigan Wolverines (18-11) at Fisher Stadium in the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex. Game time is set for 3:05 p.m. ET. Complete coverage will be provided through BGSUFalcons.com and the baseball Gameday Central page.
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