Softball Earns Split With NIU After Offensive Explosion

Friday, April 27

Bowling Green, Ohio.

1:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Northern Illinois University (Sball Bingo - Qdoba HR/FB - Cornhole)

April 27, 2012 | Softball

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

Game 1 - Boxscore | Game 2 - Boxscore | Paige Berger Audio | Hannah Fulk Audio | Coach Salsburg Audio

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio. -- The Bowling Green State University softball team split their doubleheader with Northern Illinois Friday afternoon, falling 4-3 in game one, before punishing the Huskies 15-2 in the second contest. The Falcons set several school records in game two, including home runs in a game (6) and home runs in an inning (4). Both numbers also stand as Mid-American Conference records.

Sophomore Katie Yoho led the Falcons offensively in the first contest, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Senior Rachel Proehl led the Falcons in hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored in the game. Freshman Jamie Kertes started the contest, recording four strikeouts and giving up three earned runs in 5.0 innings. Freshman Paris Imholz recorded 2.0 innings in relief, allowing two hits and the game-winning run to earn the loss.

Northern Illinois got on the board early, scoring one run on two hits in the top of the first inning. The Falcons responded with a run of their own however, crossing home plate one time on two hits in the bottom of the opening frame. Junior Andrea Arney came to the plate with two on, and belted a one-run double to right field to tie the game 1-1.

The Falcons kept their foot on the gas, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead. The scoring came on behalf of a two-run home run from Yoho, marking her first of the day and ninth of the season.

Bowling Green was unable to hold on however, allowing three Northern Illinois runs in the final four innings. The Huskies scored two of their runs in the fifth, and a final go-ahead score in the top of the seventh to take the late 4-3 lead. The Falcons attempted a rally in the bottom of the seventh, but stranded two runners on two hits, giving Northern Illinois the win.

With their six-game winning streak snapped, the Falcons responded with a season-high 15-run outburst in the second contest. Several Falcons homered in the game, breaking Bowling Green and Mid-American Conference records in the process.

Junior Hannah Fulk went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI, setting career highs in both categories. Junior Paige Berger went 2-for-3, including a home run and a double, recording three RBI in the process. Junior Andrea Arney also went 2-for-3, snapping a 14-game home run drought with her tenth blast of the year. Yoho and sophomore Erika Stratton also homered in the contest, culminating in a six home run effort from Bowling Green in the second game of the doubleheader.

The Orange and Brown put up two seven-run frames, including a school and conference record four home runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Imholz was credited with the victory, giving up just five hits and two earned runs in three innings of work. Kertes pitched the final two innings of the contest, giving up just one hit and striking out two in the process.

“That was the first time all year that we had the entire team on track offensively, and that was really exciting,” said head coach Shannon Salsburg. “We've been waiting for that moment, and it usually comes from a rally or just a game where the kids want it. The next thing you know you get back-to-back hits or back-to-back home runs. Wherever it came from, I hope it stays.”

Along with all of the runs scored, Fulk secured yet another walk in the second game of the Falcons' doubleheader, breaking the Bowling Green season record. Fulk now has 38 walks this season, breaking the previous mark set by Hayley Weimer (37) in 2008. Weimer also holds the all-time walk record, with 121 over her career. Fulk now ranks second on the all-time list, with 87 career walks.

Bowling Green (32-17, 12-4 MAC) is back in action tomorrow against MAC foe Western Michigan. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.