Falcons Earn Back-To-Back Shutouts Against Oakland

Monday, April 23

Bowling Green, Ohio.

3:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Oakland University (Sball Bingo - Qdoba HR/FB)

April 23, 2012 | Softball

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

Boxscore (Game 1) | Boxscore (Game 2) | Photo Gallery | Hannah Fulk Audio | Paige Berger Audio

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio. – The Bowling Green State University softball team completed back-to-back shutouts of Oakland University late Monday afternoon, defeating the Golden Grizzlies 5-0 in both contests.

Juniors Paige Berger and Hannah Fulk both had solid days at the plate, collecting three hits apiece in game one. Berger went 3-for-3 with a double and four RBI, while Fulk went 3-for-4 with a double and stolen base. Freshman Jamie Kertes picked up the complete game victory, allowing just two hits. Kertes also recorded a career-high nine strikeouts in the game.

The Falcons got on the board early, scoring one run on two hits in the bottom of the opening inning. Fulk opened the frame with a single, before being moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Rachel Proehl. Berger shot a single up the middle, bringing Fulk home for the first run of the day.

Berger recorded her second RBI of the contest in the bottom of the third, doubling in Proehl from second base to give Bowling Green the 2-0 lead.

Bowling Green recorded the final three runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, crossing home plate three times on four hits in the frame. Berger came to plate with two runners on, and once again belted a double to bring home two more Falcon runs. Freshman Shelby Fink capped off the scoring, singling in the third and final run of the inning to give Bowling Green the 5-0 lead.

Oakland was unable to solve Kertes for the remainder of the game, giving the Falcons the 5-0 game one win.

Bowling Green defeated the Golden Grizzlies in the second half of the doubleheader, once again defeating Oakland 5-0.

Berger and senior Melissa West each recorded two hits in the win, while sophomore Erika Stratton went 1-for-2, including her first home run of the season. Freshman Paris Imholz picked up the win, allowing just three hits and striking out four in the complete game effort.

Two Oakland fielding errors to start the game put Bowling Green up early yet again, giving the Falcons the 1-0 lead after one inning of play.

Bowling Green added two more in the fourth, crossing home plate twice on three hits in the inning. Sophomore Katie Yoho singled down the left field line to start the rally, eventually moving to third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch. Stratton then earned a walk, before being taken out in favor of Courtney Cox as a pinch runner. Cox stole second, allowing Yoho to cross home plate on the throw. Freshman Chloe Giordano singled home the second Falcon run of the inning two batters later, giving Bowling Green the 3-0 lead.

The Falcons would score two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Stratton's solo home run.

Oakland was held off the board yet again, giving Bowling Green the 5-0 win, and the sweep of the Golden Grizzlies.

“Today we played well as a team,” said head coach Shannon Salsburg. “We found a way to make things happen offensively and Jamie (Kertes) and Paris (Imholz) did a good job of shutting down their hitters. I am proud of our effort today.

The sweep increases Bowling Green's current win streak to six games, the longest of the season. The last Falcon loss came on April 15, a 3-2 loss to Central Michigan.

The sweep also gives the Falcons their first 30 win season since 2007, when they finished the year with a 33-12 record.

Bowling Green (31-16, 11-3 MAC) is back in action this Friday, in a doubleheader against Northern Illinois. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.