Falcons Fall In Game Three At Western Michigan, 1-0

Sunday, March 25

Kalamazoo, Mich.

1:00 pm

Bowling Green State University

8-15, 0-3

Western Michigan University

10-10, 3-0

Bowling Green

Western Michigan

March 25, 2012 | Baseball

Box Score

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

Box Score

The Bowling Green State University baseball team was defeated by Western Michigan, 1-0 on Sunday. The win completes the sweep of the weekend series for Western Michigan, and drops the Falcons to 8-15 overall, and 0-3 in Mid-American Conference play. Western Michigan improves to 10-10 on the season, and 3-0 in MAC play.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Andrew Lacinak started the game for the Falcons, and set the tone for Falcon pitchers on the day. Although Lacinak was the tough luck loser of Sunday's game, he turned in the best performance of his season thus far. The young lefty went 6.1 innings on the day, only allowing three hits. He struck out three batters, and allowed just one run, which was unearned.

The Broncos got the lone run of the ballgame in the bottom of the second, helped by a leadoff error. With runners on first and third and one out, Bronco catcher Caleb Caton flew out to right field to score the run. However, on the throw home, the runner from first tried to advance to second, but was thrown out for the out (9-2-6) to end the inning.

The Falcons would have multiple chances to score over the final seven innings, but were unable to push any runs across. In the third, the Falcons had two runners on with one out, but a groundout followed by a flyout would end the threat. In the fourth, the Falcons would find themselves with two runners on and just one out again, but a strikeout followed by a flyout would end the inning.

The seventh inning proved to be the best scoring opportunity for the Falcons, as they loaded the bases with just one out and the top of the order coming up. Jake Thomas would hit a line drive up the middle, but the Bronco shortstop made a diving catch behind second base, and doubled the runner off of second to end the inning.

The Falcons' final chance in the ninth inning would start with promise, as Patrick Lancaster reached on a throwing error by the Western Michigan third baseman. Matt Pitzulo would reach on a fielder's choice, but Lancaster was retired at second on the play for the first out. The next batter, Jeremy Shay, would single, and the Falcons would once again have runners on first and second with one out. Jesse Rait would come into the game to pinch-run for Matt Pitzulo. Following the Shay single, Logan Walker came in to pinch-hit for Alex Davison, as the Broncos brought on their closer. Walker would strike out swinging on a 3-2 pitch, but the runners would both advance on stolen bases. Drew Kuns would pinch-run for Jeremy Shay at second, but Brian Bien would ground out to third to end the game.

The Falcons outhit Western Michigan 7-4 on Sunday, but left nine runners on base in the loss.

Bowling Green will head to East Lansing, Mich. for a midweek matchup with the Spartans of Michigan State on Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 3 pm.

Next weekend, Bowling Green will come home for their first weekend series of the season, when they take on Central Michigan in a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Steller Field beginning Friday.