Bowling Green State University Athletics
Wednesday, May 8
Akron, Ohio
1:30 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
vs
Ohio University
Falcons Prepare For MAC Tournament
May 06, 2013 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University softball team concluded the 2013 regular season on Sunday finishing the year with a 26-22 overall record, including a record of 9-13 in the Mid-American Conference. Bowling Green's nine conference wins earned the Falcons the seventh seed in this year's MAC Tournament, where they will meet the sixth-seeded Ohio Bobcats. Bowling Green split the season series with the Bobcats at Meserve Field earlier this season, losing 5-1 in game one before rebounding with a 3-2 win in game two.
The Falcons' first round game is set for Wednesday, May 8 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Bowling Green holds a 54-43 mark against the Bobcats in the all-time series, including a record of 7-11 under coach Salsburg. The Falcons split with Ohio last season, winning game one, 4-2, before dropping game two by a score of 3-1.
The Last Time
This Wednesday's game will mark the Falcons' first game against Ohio in the MAC Tournament since 2010. That season, Bowling Green entered the tournament as an eighth seed, and fell to the No. 4 Bobcats by a score of 4-1 in the first game of the losers' bracket. Bowling Green's last win against Ohio in the MAC Tournament came in the 2008 campaign, when the No. 3 Falcons defeated the No. 6 Bobcats by a score of 3-1.
Last Year's MAC Tournament
The Falcons finished the 2012 regular season with a record of 35-20 overall, and a record of 15-7 in MAC play, with both win totals setting new career highs for head coach Shannon Salsburg. Bowling Green finished in the number two spot in the East Division, earning the third overall seed in the MAC Tournament. The Falcons went 1-2 in the 2012 MAC Tournament, falling to Central Michigan in their first game by a score of 2-1. Bowling Green rebounded in their second contest, advancing to the third round with a 5-0 win over Toledo. The team lost to Ball State in its third game, falling to the Cardinals by a score of 3-2. The loss eliminated Bowling Green from the MAC Tournament, and ended the Falcons' season.
Last Year's All Tournament Team
The Mid-American Conference named its 2012 All-Tournament Team on the final day of action, honoring Bowling Green's Hannah Fulk. Fulk led the Falcons with five hits in 11 at bats, recording a .455 batting average. Fulk also led the Orange and Brown in home runs (2), RBI (3) and total bases (12). Fulk's 1.091 slugging percentage was more than double any other Falcon, while her .455 on-base percentage also led the Orange and Brown. Fulk was the first Falcon named to the MAC All-Tournament Team since 2008, when Hayley Wiemer, Emily Gouge and Dawnjene DeLong were all honored.
MAC All-Tournament Team - 2012
Hannah Fulk, Bowling Green
Lauren Grimes, Kent State
Meredith Whitney, Western Michigan
Gracie Barstad, Western Michigan
Jenn Tschetter, Western Michigan
Molly Coldren, Central Michigan
Kara Dormbos, Central Michigan
Shanyn McIntyre, Miami
Kayla Ledbetter, Miami
Jessica Simpson, Miami - MVP
Weekly Review – Western Michigan
Bowling Green split its series with Western Michigan Friday afternoon, dropping the Broncos by a score of 2-0 in game one before falling, 4-3, in game two. The win solidified a bid to the 2013 MAC Tournament, marking Bowling Green's second straight trip to the conference postseason.
Junior Erika Stratton recorded two of the Falcons' three hits in game one, going 2-for-3 with two singles and a pair of RBI. Senior Paige Berger also picked up a hit, going 1-for-3 with a run scored. Sophomore Jamie Kertes picked up the win after allowing just six hits and striking out four in 6.1 innings. Fellow sophomore Paris Imholz recorded the final two outs of the ball game, marking her third save of the season.
Stratton continued to produce in game two, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Fulk also had a solid game, going 1-for-3 with a single and a run scored. Along with her single, Fulk earned her 121st walk in the contest, tying Hayley Wiemer for first on the Bowling Green all-time walk list. Imholz pitched the first 4.1 innings of game two, allowing two earned runs and six hits in the no decision. Kertes (10-13) was credited with the loss after giving up the game-winning run in the final 2.0 innings of play.
Weekly Review – Northern Illinois
The Falcons lost to Northern Illinois University Saturday afternoon, falling to the Huskies by a score of 3-0 at Mary M. Bell Field. Senior Paige Berger recorded one of the Falcons' two hits in the ball game, collecting a single in a 1-for-2 day. Junior Erika Stratton picked up Bowling Green's other hit, going 1-for-3 with a single. Sophomore Paris Imholz (16-7) was credited with the loss, giving up three hits and one earned run with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings of play. Fellow sophomore Jamie Kertes also saw action, allowing two hits and striking out two in the final 3.0 frames.
Bowling Green lost to Northern Illinois University Sunday afternoon, falling to the Huskies by a score of 5-4 at Mary M. Bell Field. The loss dropped the Falcons' overall record to 26-22, including a record of 9-13 in the Mid-American Conference.
Senior Paige Berger led the Falcons with two RBI, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and two runs scored. Junior Erika Stratton also recorded two hits, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a single. Sophomore Chloe Giordano was able to secure her ninth RBI of the season, recording a single in a 1-for-3 day. Sophomore Jamie Kertes started the contest, allowing three runs and six hits in the first 2.2 innings. Paris Imholz (16-7) was credited with the loss after giving up one earned run and six hits in the final 3.1 innings of relief.
Player Of The Week Nominee
Junior Erika Stratton, a Las Vegas, Nev. native, led Bowling Green with a .500 batting average this past week, helping the Falcons earn a second-straight MAC Tournament bid. Stratton also led the Falcons with seven hits, five RBI and 12 total bases, culminating in a team-best .857 slugging percentage. Stratton collected two extra-base hits over the weekend, including a triple and a home run, while also pacing the Orange and Brown with a .500 on-base percentage.
Conference Leaders
Offense
Senior Paige Berger, a native of Rootstown, Ohio, concluded her phenomenal collegiate career with one of her strongest seasons for Bowling Green. Berger led the Falcons with an impressive .348 batting average in 22 conference games, collecting 24 hits in 69 at bats. Berger tied for the team lead with three doubles, while her 15 runs scored accounted for more than any other Falcon. Along with her strong offensive game, Berger consistently made phenomenal plays at first base, accounting for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Berger led the conference in chances and putouts in 2013, recording 205 and 207, respectively.
Berger's numbers were even better overall, including a team-best .364 batting average and 36 runs scored in 48 games played. She recorded 14 extra-base hits over the course of the season, including six doubles, two triples and six home runs. Berger led the Orange and Brown with an overall .545 slugging percentage, while also pacing Bowling Green with 84 total bases.
Pitching
Sophomore Jamie Kertes, a Carnegie, Pa. native, picked up right where she left off last season, continuing strong play after being named the 2012 Freshman Of The Year. Kertes leads the Mid-American Conference with an incredible 1.49 earned run average, thanks to just 18 earned runs allowed in just over 84 innings pitched. In nine of her conference starts, Kertes has gone the distance an incredible 55 percent of the time, recording six complete games with two shut out victories. In 20 appearances, Kertes has held opponents to two runs or less 14 times, and has picked up a conference-best two saves.
Her 60 strikeouts put her in an elite class, as only three other MAC pitchers have reached the 50-strikeout plateau in conference play. Kertes also leads the MAC with 26 strikeouts looking. Kertes also ranks in the top seven in opposing batting average, holding hitters to a .233 average.
Final 2013 MAC Standings
| Team |
Conf. Wins |
Conf. Losses |
Conf. Pct. |
Overall Wins | Overall Losses |
Overall Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | ||||||
| Kent State | 16 | 6 | .727 | 27 | 19 | .585 |
| Miami (Ohio) | 12 | 10 | .545 | 19 | 32 | .372 |
| Bowling Green | 9 | 13 | .409 | 26 | 22 | .541 |
| Ohio | 9 | 13 | .409 | 26 | 27 | .490 |
| Akron | 8 | 14 | .363 | 23 | 29 | .442 |
| Buffalo | 6 | 14 | .300 | 16 | 32 | .333 |
| West | ||||||
| Ball State | 18 | 3 | .857 | 35 | 15 | .700 |
| Central Michigan | 15 | 7 | .681 | 29 | 18 | .617 |
| Northern Illinois | 14 | 8 | .636 | 24 | 29 | .452 |
| Toledo | 8 | 14 | .363 | 16 | 34 | .323 |
| Western Michigan | 7 | 13 | .350 | 16 | 33 | .326 |
| Eastern Michigan | 7 | 14 | .333 | 17 | 32 | .350 |
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