Rain Shortened Game Leads to First BGSU Victory

Sunday, February 27

Murray, Kentucky

1:00 pm CT

Bowling Green State University

Murray State University

February 27, 2011 | Baseball

Though Mother Nature shortened today's game, BGSU earned its first victory of the season versus the Thoroughbreds.

By: by Ryan Gasser, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

MURRAY, Ky. -- A rain shortened contest at Reagan Field (Murray, Ky.) allowed Bowling Green to earn its first victory of the season in a 4-2 decision over the Murray State Thoroughbreds, Sunday afternoon. The game was called after seven complete innings of play when the rains started in the top of the eighth.

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For the third time this series Murray State scored in the first inning. Bowling Green starting pitcher Charles Wooten (Elmore, Ohio) had a rock start hitting the first batter he faced who then advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch advanced the runner another 90 feet before Jacob Rhodes hit a RBI sacrifice fly to center field, scoring the run from third.

Wooten did settle down and pitch three scoreless innings thereafter. He struck out the side in the bottom of the second inning and struck out seven batters over his five innings of work.

Bowling Green did all its damage in innings four through six, scoring all four of its runs over than span of time. In the fourth inning, senior co-captain Clay Duncan (Norwalk, Ohio) led off the inning with a single to right center field before stealing second base. Duncan advanced to third on a groundout to the right side and scored on a wild pitch by Murray State starting pitcher, Tyler Beers.

The Brown and Orange took a two-run lead in the fifth inning after adding a pair of runs to the scoreboard. Alex Davison (Grand Ledge, Mich.) led the inning off with a single down the left field line. With one out, Logan Walker (Richmond, Vir.) grounded to third but a throwing error allowed him to make his way to second and Davison to third. Davison was gunned down at the plate after Andrew Kubuski (Elyria, Ohio) grounded sharply to first base but Patrick Martin (Oregon, Ohio) brought both Walker and Kubuski around the bases with a three-bagger hit to the left center field gap.

Taking a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth, the Thoroughbreds chipped into the lead when Rhodes got his second RBI of the day with a run scoring single.

The Falcons avenged that run, getting it back on Ryan Schlater's run scoring bunt with Frank Berry (Virginia Beach, Vir.) scoring from third. Berry led the inning off with a double to right center field and advanced on a groundout hit to the right side. Schalter's RBI sacrifice made the score 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Levi Fisher (Bryan, Ohio) and Matt Malewitz (Grand Rapids, Mich.) each pitched a scoreless inning of relief after Wooten's five-inning outing.

At the start of the eighth inning, the rains began and thickened over time. The inning began and Frank Berry actually hit a solo homerun that hit the centerfield scoreboard, knocking power from the unit. Unfortunately, the weather continued to worsen and after a 25-minute rain delay, the game was called. At that point in the game, it was recorded as official and the Falcons earned the 4-2 win.

Patrick Martin led all hitters going 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Falcons offensively in the win. Only four more Falcons earned a single hit in the game.

Bowling Green (1-5) will now prepare for its annual Spring Break trip. The Falcons will participate in the RussMatt Invitational in Winter Haven, Flor. for the third straight year. Play will begin on Saturday, March 5 when the Falcons open play with Xavier University.

Full coverage of Falcon baseball and all 18 varsity sports can be found on the official online home of BGSU athletics, www.BGSUFalcons.com. Be sure to follow the Falcons on Facebook by searching “BG Warriors” or follow them on Twitter through www.twitter.com/WEAREBGBASEBALL.