BGSU Edges Out Lehigh

Monday, March 7

Winter Haven, Flor.

11:00 a.m.

Bowling Green State University

Lehigh University

March 07, 2011 | Baseball

By: by Ryan Gasser, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

WINTER HAVEN, Flor. -- Late-inning offense for Bowling Green earned them their second win of the season and their first while playing in the RussMatt Tournament. The Falcons scored three runs between the seventh and eighth innings to regain a lead and closed out the ninth for a 6-5 win over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on Monday afternoon.

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Down 5-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning, the middle of the Falcon lineup caused the damage beginning with junior shortstop Jon Berti (Troy, Mich.) and his one-out single to center field. Freshman Jeremy Shay's single put runners at the corners leading to Patrick Martin (Oregon, Ohio) bringing Berti home with a single to left. Shay scored from third on a Ryan Schlater (St. Paris, Ohio) single to right field, tying the game at five runs.

Logan Walker (Richmond, Vir.) scored the winning run in the eighth inning courtesy of a Lehigh error in the outfield. Walker led the inning off with a single and then used his legs to motor 270 feet back to home plate. Sophomore Matt Pitzulo (Poland, Ohio) put the ball in play, singling to right to right field. An error by right fielder Andrew Russell gave Walker the extra time to score all the way from first base to give the Falcons a one run lead, 6-5.

Ross Gerdeman (Fort Jennings, Ohio) regained control after giving up two runs in the first of his four innings of relief. He shut the door on the Mountain Hawks forcing three groundouts to end the game and give Bowling Green the win.

Gerdeman (1-0) earned the win, allowing two runs on two hits. In his last three innings, he put only one runner on base on a ninth inning walk. Charles Wooten (Elmore, Ohio) got the start and pitched five innings, allowing three runs (one earned) and striking out four hitters in a no-decision.

Berti led the Falcons offensively going 4-for-5 on the day with a run and an RBI. Three other Falcons had multiple hits on the day,

The Falcons have Tuesday to rest with an off day during the tournament. They will resume play on Wednesday, March 9 at 10:30 a.m. when BGSU plays Mount Saint Mary's in nearby Aurburndale, Florida.

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.