Falcons Split With Ohio On First Day Of MAC Play

Friday, March 30

Athens, Ohio.

1:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Ohio University

March 30, 2012 | Softball

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

Game 1 - BOXSCORE | Game 2 - BOXSCORE |

ATHENS, Ohio. – The Bowling Green State University softball team split their doubleheader with Ohio Friday afternoon, defeating the Bobcats 4-2 in game one, before falling 3-1 in game two.

The Falcons opened MAC play with an impressive victory over Ohio, defeating the Bobcats 4-2 in the first game of the doubleheader. Junior Andrea Arney carried the load offensively for the Falcons, going 1-for-2 in the contest with a home run and an RBI. Freshman Jamie Kertes picked up the win for Bowling Green, allowing eight hits and recording four strikeouts in six innings of work. Fellow freshman Paris Imholz got the save, shutting out the Bobcats in the final frame to secure the win.

Bowling Green got on the board early, securing two runs in the top of the first on two hits. Junior Hannah Fulk started the game with a leadoff double, but Ohio was able to strikeout the next two batters. Arney walked with two outs, before a fielding error allowed Fulk to score from second. Sophomore Katie Yoho reached first on the error, while Arney moved to third. The Falcons then completed a double steal, highlighted by Arney stealing home on the throw to second base.

Ohio responded in the bottom of the first, evening the contest 2-2 on two hits in the frame. The Bobcats threatened again in the bottom of the third inning, recording three straight hits to load the bases. Kertes battled out of the inning however, holding on to the 2-2 deadlock.

Kertes opened the next inning at the plate with a walk, before advancing to second on a passed ball. After another Bowling Green walk, senior Melissa West singled to left center, bringing home Kertes for the 3-2 Bowling Green lead.

Arney added an insurance run in the top of the fifth, belting her sixth home run of the season to left field to give Bowling Green the 4-2 lead. Ohio was unable to score for the remainder of the contest, giving the Falcons the 4-2 win.

Bowling Green dropped the second game of the doubleheader, falling to the Bobcats 3-1. The Falcons collected five hits in the game, with junior Paige Berger recording the lone RBI in the contest. Imholz was credited with the loss, giving up six hits and two earned runs in six innings of work.

Ohio opened the game with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, giving the Bobcats the early 2-0 lead. Ohio added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on two hits, giving the Bobcats the 3-0 advantage.

The Falcons attempted a rally in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with Berger at the plate. A pitch hit Berger, bringing in the lone Falcon run of the contest. With the bases loaded and two outs, Arney struck out looking, giving Ohio the 3-1 win.

“The team fought hard today,” said head coach Shannon Salsburg. “It was great to come out strong in game one. Ohio is a quality team. We knew they would come back strong. We had opportunities but came up just a bit short. Overall it was a strong start to our Mac conference games.”

The Falcons (16-11, 1-1) are back in action tomorrow, facing off against Akron on the road. The game starts at 2 p.m.