Softball Falls 8-5 To Ball State In Final Regular Season Contest

Sunday, May 6

Muncie, Ind.

1:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Ball State University

Junior Hannah Fulk

May 06, 2012 | Softball

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

Boxscore | MAC Tournament Bracket

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Bowling Green State University softball team dropped their final contest of the regular season Sunday afternoon, falling to the Ball State Cardinals 8-5.

Junior Hannah Fulk had a tremendous day at the plate, going 3-for-4 including a three run home in the fifth inning to break the Bowling Green single-season home run record (13). Junior Paige Berger, the previous record holder (12), went 1-for-3 with a solo home run.

Freshman Paris Imholz (17-9) picked up the loss, giving up six hits and four earned runs in five innings of work. Freshman Jamie Kertes pitched an inning of relief in the middle of the contest, also allowing six hits and four earned runs.

The Falcons broke their scoring drought early in the contest, crossing home plate one time on two hits in the first inning. Junior Hannah Fulk led off the game with a single, before a batter's interference and a strikeout resulted in two quick outs for Bowling Green. Junior Andrea Arney earned a two-out walk, putting runners at first and second for sophomore Katie Yoho in the following at bat. Yoho belted a single to right field, bringing Fulk home from second for the first run of the game.

Ball State didn't answer back until the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits to take the 3-1 lead.

Bowling Green refused to quit, immediately scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the fifth to take back the lead. A double from sophomore Erika Stratton and a walk from freshman Chloe Giordano started the rally, putting two runners on with no outs. Fulk then came to the plate, and belted a three-run homer to left field to put the score at 4-3 in favor of Bowling Green. Berger then came to the plate after a Falcon out, and hit a solo home run to push the score to 5-3.

The Cardinals high-powered offense went back to work in the bottom of the fifth, scoring one run to pull the score to 5-4. Ball State continued to pour on the runs in the bottom of the sixth, crossing home plate four times on four hits to take the 8-5 lead into the seventh inning.

The Falcons were unable to score again in the final frame, securing the 8-5 win for Ball State.

"We played hard today but came up just short," said head coach Shannon Salsburg. "We fought the whole game. Now we are excited to turn our attention to the Mac tournament."

Bowling Green (35-20, 15-7 MAC) will enter the MAC Tournament as the three seed, and will play the winner of the 6/7 matchup (Central Michigan/Kent State) on May 9 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.