Arney’s Walk-Off Single Gives Falcons Another Late Win

Saturday, May 7

Bowling Green, Ohio

2:00 pm

Bowling Green State University

Akron

May 07, 2011 | Softball

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Boxscore - Bowling Green 3, Akron 2

Bowling Green, Ohio – Sophomore second baseman Andrea Arney hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Bowling Green softball team won for the fourth time in five games, defeating Akron 3-2 Saturday to spoil the Zips' chances at making the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

Since starting conference play at just 1-14, the Falcons have gone 4-1 including a sweep over one of the MAC favorites in Ball State. All four of the team's wins during that stretch have come in walk-off variety, with the Falcons beating Ball State in back-to-back extra inning games before sophomore Paige Berger hit a walk-off three-run homer to beat Ohio Friday. Arney's clutch hit in the bottom of the seventh against Akron capped a comeback as the Falcons trailed 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

For Akron's part, the Zips entered the game with eight MAC wins, tied with Kent State for the eighth-most wins in league play. Only the top eight teams advance to the MAC Tournament. The heart-breaking loss for Akron, combined with a Kent State win, eliminates the Zips from the postseason event.

Zada Lines pitched her second complete game victory in as many days, allowing just one earned run over seven innings. Akron had seven hits off of Lines, but the Zips had no walks and struck out four times. She improved to 7-8 on the year.

Bowling Green jumped on top in the bottom of the first as Hannah Fulk singled up the middle for the first of her game-high three hits. She moved to second on Rachel Proehl's ground out. Berger had an infield single that did not move up Fulk and Arney reached on a fielder's choice when Akron tried to get Fulk out at third but was late on the throw. Katie Yoho followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

Akron picked up an unearned run in the top of the second and took the lead on a Sarah Stromack sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth. The game remained 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth.

Yoho reached on a one-out error and moved to second on Missy Bowman's single down the left field line. Yoho then used a perfectly timed delay steal to reach third and Erika Stratton singled up the middle to drive in the tie run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Fulk opened the frame with a base hit to the right centerfield gap. She advanced to second on Proehl's groundout and Berger reached on a fielder's choice in which Akron went for the out at third and was unable to get a sliding Fulk out. With Arney at the plate, Bowling Green dialed up a squeeze play but she was unable to get down the bunt and Fulk was caught in a rundown. She was tagged out but Berger was able to move all the way up to third during the game of pepper. Arney made up for the miscue by ripping a 2-1 pitch through the middle to plate Berger.

Bowling Green outhit Akron 9-7 but Fulk was the only player on either team with more than one hit, going 3-for-4. All nine of the Falcons' hits were singles.

Akron falls to 24-23 overall and 8-12 in MAC play. Bowling Green improves to 11-32 overall and 5-15 in conference action. The Falcons will honor six seniors Sunday as the two teams meet again for Senior Day beginning at 1 p.m. That contest will conclude the 2011 season for Bowling Green.