Falcons Outhit Breds But Fall 5-4

Saturday, February 22

Murray, KY

2:00 p.m. CT

Bowling Green State University

2-3

Murray State University

3-2

Bowling Green

Murray State

Photo by: BGSU Marketing and Communications

February 22, 2014 | Baseball

Box Score

BGSU will look to win the series Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

BOX SCORE

MURRAY, Ky.—The Bowling Green State University baseball team had an opportunity to win the series on Saturday afternoon, but the Falcons would lose 5-3 at Murray State in the middle game of the series.

The Falcons fell behind 3-0 after the first five innings, but would tie the game with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth.

Patrick Lancaster led off the sixth inning with a single through the right side of the infield. He would advance to third on an errant pickoff throw by Murray State starter Cameron Finch, who has picked off five base runners through the first two weekends of the season.

The next batter, Brian Bien, would ground one to short with Lancaster on third. The shortstop was unable to make the play, however, and Lancaster would scamper home when the ball kicked away from the defender. Bien would then advance to third on Jeremy Shay's double down the right field line.

Shay, who went 3-for-4 on the day with a run and RBI, had two doubles in the ballgame.

With Falcons on second and third, catcher T.J. Losby had a chance to tie the game with a base hit. Losby wouldn't tie the game, but his fly ball to centerfield was enough to bring Bien in from third on the sacrifice fly. Shay would advance to third on the fly out.

Left fielder Andrew Kubuski, who had been involved in an outfield collision just half an inning before, would line a pitch over the shortstop's glove to score Shay and tie the game at 3-3.

The veteran presence at the top of the batting order on Saturday would continue to pay off, as next batter Logan Walker would double to centerfield to move Kubuski to third.

Murray State would turn to the bullpen and pitcher Cody Maerz, and he would get the final two outs of the sixth to strand both runners in scoring position.

The Thoroughbreds would answer immediately back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the sixth inning, taking the lead for good.

Saturday starter Mike Frank would give way to Trevor Blaylock in the bottom of the sixth. Frank went 5.0 innings in the game, allowing three runs and striking out five.

With one out in the home half of the sixth, Murray State would get a single between Blaylock's legs. The right-hander from Bryan, Ohio would get a ground ball to the next batter, but the Falcons could not turn the double play, extending the MSU inning. With a runner on first and two outs, the next batter would double to put two 'Breds in scoring position with two outs. Ty Stetson, MSU's leadoff hitter who went 3-for-4 in the game, would single to bring home both runners. The second run looked to be out at home after a perfect relay from Kubuski to Bien to Losby, but the umpire would rule him safe to extend MSU's lead to 5-3.

Freshman Greg Basalyga led off the top of the seventh with his first career double, a rope to left field. He would be erased on a 1-5-6-1 putout, as Basalyga was caught between second and third on Lancaster's tapper back to the mound. However, the freshman would make a heady play, staying in the rundown long enough to allow the speedy centerfielder to reach second on the play. After a foul out to the catcher by Bien, Shay would bring Lancaster home on his second double of the game.

Trailing 5-4, Blaylock would retire Murray State in order in both the bottom of seventh and eighth to give the Falcons a chance. Lancaster would single with two outs in the ninth as the Falcons attempted to tie the game, but he would be stranded to end the game.

Bowling Green (2-3) and Murray State (3-2) will play the final game of the three-game series Sunday (Feb. 23) afternoon. The game will begin at 1:00 p.m. CT at MSU's Johnny Reagan Field.

Notes
*Leaders for the Falcons on Saturday: Patrick Lancaster (3-for-5, 2 runs), Jeremy Shay (3-for-4, two 2Bs, 1 run, 1 RBI), and Logan Walker (2-for-4)

*Mike Frank went five innings with five strikeouts in the game. His 233.2 innings pitched in his career are eight-most in school history. He now has 168 strikeouts in his career, 10th-most in school history.

*Jeremy Shay's single in the first inning extended his streak to 19 consecutive games reaching base, dating back to May 2013.

*Brian Bien's infield single in the top of the first extended his streak to eight consecutive games reaching base, dating back to May 31, 2013.

*Andrew Kubuski's RBI single in the top of the sixth inning extended his hitting streak to six games.

*Patrick Lancaster extended his hitting streak to eight games, and his on-base streak to nine games, in Saturday's game.

*T.J. Losby played in his 114th consecutive game for the Falcons on Saturday. He has appeared in every game, dating back to the final game of the 2011 season.