Spencer Clears Way for 6-4 BGSU Victory in MAC Tourney Opener

Wednesday, May 26

Chillicothe, Ohio

9:00 a.m.

Bowling Green State University

Ball State University

May 26, 2010 | Baseball

A two-out, base clearing double by Derek Spencer helped the Falcons defeat Ball State, 6-4.

By: by Ryan Gasser, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Post game video interview - Danny Schmitz (www.mac-sports.com)
Post game video interview - Derek Spencer (www.mac-sports.com)
Box score | Play-by-play (.pdf)

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio --Coming into the 2010 Mid-American Conference Tournament, Bowling Green had lost its last four games in conference tournament play. The team broke that streak after the conclusion of the tournament opener with a 6-4 win over the Ball State Cardinals to give the Brown and Orange their first MAC Tournament win since the first contest of the 2008 tournament.

A four-run third inning set the tone for Bowling Green, highlighted by Derek Spencer's base-clearing two-bagger that gave the Falcons a 4-0 edge on the Cardinals. The bottom of the Bowling Green order started the inning off strong with Matthew Pitzulo and Ryan Schlater reaching base on back-to-back singles. Pitzulo's hit was a liner up the middle while Schlater poked one through the left side of the infield setting the plate of the top of the order. Ball State nearly ended the threat with Logan Meisler when the senior second baseman smashed a line drive directly into the glove of Cardinal third baseman Stephen Claypool. Pitzulo slipped on his return to second base, but Claypool's throw flew wildly into right field allowing the BGSU designated hitter to scamper back to the bag and keep the inning alive.

Ball State starting pitcher Perci Garner struggled with his command and walked both #T.J. Blanton and Dennis Vaughn# consecutively. The walk to Vaughn easily plated Pitzulo to put Bowling Green on the board first. Wasting no time, Spencer stepped to the plate and delivered a line drive splitting the gap between left and center field on the first pitch of his at-bat. All three Falcons on base rounded the bags and scored easily to put Bowling Green up four runs.

The Falcons scored the eventual game-winning run the very next inning. Leadoff hitter Mark Galvin put an 0-1 pitch on the deck and watched it roll between the mound and third base while he reached first safely without a throw. Clay Duncan moved his teammate to second on a sacrifice bunt and after Pitzulo strikeout, it was time again for another set of two-out heroics, this time from Ryan Schlater. A wild pitch moved Galvin to third base, making the play a sure BGSU run. After running the count to 2-2, Schlater belted a solid single to left field scoring Galvin. After four at-bats, Bowling Green led Ball State, 5-0.

The Cardinals made a comeback to keep the Falcons on their heels by scoring four unanswered runs on BGSU starter Brennan Smith. After shutting out the Cardinals through four innings and striking out as many batters, Smith allowed a two-run triple to Blake Beemer. After standing a runner at second in the sixth, Smith gave up a two-run home run to right-center field to T.J. Baumet that flew over the 360-foot sign to make it a one-run game. After retiring Beemer and allowing a single to Kolbrin Vitek, the Falcons called on freshman Nick Bruns to shut down the Cardinal threat. Bruns did just that forcing cleanup hitter Zach Dygert to fly out to Blanton in center to end the inning.

Bruns got out of another jam in the eighth inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning after a one-out single Ian Nielsen put the game-tying run on base.

Bowling Green added an important insurance run by way of a Ryan Schlater home run that was a no-doubter that bounced off of the signage towering over the left-center field wall. The solo shot gave the Falcons a two-run advantage and took the pressure off of Falcon closer, Patrick O'Brien. O'Brien tossed a perfect ninth inning and retired the six, seven and eight hitters in the Ball State lineup in order. By a final score of 6-4,

Schlater finished the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBI on the day. His home run that helped seal the win for the Falcons was his fifth of the season. Spencer recorded three RBI on a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Smith tossed 6.2 innings allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out six Ball State hitters.

Bowling Green (21-21-1) wins its first Mid-American Conference tournament game since the Falcons defeated Ohio in the 2008 MAC tournament opener. They will remain in the winner's bracket for round two of the tournament and play on Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. Their opponent will be the winner of the Central Michigan / Ohio game which will be played tonight at 7 p.m.

Coverage of Bowling Green's next game will be provided through BGSUFalcons.com and MACsports.com.