Wednesday, March 30
Ann Arbor, Mich.
4:00 pm
Bowling Green State University
2
at
4
Michigan
No. 3 Michigan Overcomes BG Upset Bid
March 30, 2011 | Softball
Boxscore
Ann Arbor, Mich. – The University of Michigan used a three-run fifth inning to come-from-behind for a 4-2 win in upstart Bowling Green's upset bid Wednesday afternoon. In a game that looked like a mismatch on paper, the Falcons led for much of the contest and battled the Wolverines throughout. Michigan came into the game at 31-2 on the year and ranked No. 3 in the country, while BGSU was 4-12 entering the contest.
Senior Zada Lines hurled a gem on the mound for the first four innings and sophomore Hannah Fulk provided the offensive punch in the early-going. The Falcons threatened for more runs all game long as the lead-off runner reached in five of the seven innings.
While Lines shut down a potent Michigan offense in the first two innings, Fulk's bat stunned the Wolverines when she led off the third inning with a first-pitch blast over the centerfield fence to put Bowling Green on top 1-0.
Michigan started to get the bats going in the bottom of the third, tying the game on an Amanda Chidester bases loaded single, but BGSU left fielder Rachel Proehl threw out Nicole Sappingfield at the plate and right fielder Abby Hanson made a diving catch on the warning track for the third out of the inning.
Bowling Green struck back in the top of the fourth as Andrea Arney hit a bloop single and Erika Stratton reached when her sacrifice bunt attempt was misplayed. With runners on first and second with one out, Arney and pinch-runner Jenny Kelley pulled off a double steal. Katie Yoho walked and Fulk worked a nine-pitch two-out walk to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the fifth, when Chidester drew a one-out walk and Ashley Lane drilled a pitch over the left field wall for a 3-2 Michigan lead. The Wolverines tacked on another run before Melissa Bott came on and forced a groundout for the third out.
The Falcons tried to rally in the sixth as Adrienne Dick walked. After a fielder's choice, Lindsay Arney had a sac bunt and baserunner Yoho moved to third on a passed ball. However, Fulk struck out swinging and that ended the threat. Bowling Green went down in order in the seventh.
Fulk went 2-for-3 in the game but the Falcons were outhit 10-3 for the afternoon. Bowling Green did draw six walks from Michigan pitcher Stephanie Speierman, who entered the contest with a record of 14-0 and a 1.62 ERA. She improved to 15-0 with the win. Lines took the loss despite the strong outing, falling to 3-2 on the year.
Michigan moves to 32-2 on the year and Bowling Green falls to 4-13. The Falcons open Mid-American Conference play this weekend, hosting Kent State in a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. BGSU will then host Buffalo Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
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