Falcons Knock Off Yale On First Day Of Russ Matt Invitational

Tuesday, March 11

Winter Haven, Fla.

2:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

3-10

Illinois State University

9-4

Bowling Green

Illinois State

March 11, 2014 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BGSU has now won two of three and will play Evansville Wednesday afternoon

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

Illinois State Box Score
Yale Box Score

WINTER HAVEN, Fla.—The Bowling Green State University baseball team defeated Yale University 5-4 on Tuesday night in the finale of a doubleheader at the Central Florida Russ Matt Invitational. The Falcons have now won two of the last three games to improve their overall record to 4-10. BGSU was defeated by Illinois State in Tuesday's first game, 11-3.

In the second game of the day, the Falcons came from behind to defeat Yale 5-4. It was just the Bulldogs' sixth game of the season, but they already have an impressive road win over nationally-ranked Louisiana State on their resume.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, freshman Greg Basalyga would lead off with a double deep into the right centerfield gap. Yale would turn to reliever Chris Moates after that, replacing starter David Hickey. Hickey would get a no-decision, going six innings while allowing four earned runs. Moates would retire Bien on a groundout to second base, but Bien would successfully move Basalyga to third base on the play.

Patrick Lancaster, the next batter, would hit a chopper over the drawn-in infield, scoring Basalyga from third and tying the game. Lancaster would then steal second to move into scoring position before a Jeremy Shay walk. T.J. Losby was then hit with a pitch, but the Falcons would leave the bases loaded in the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, with the game tied, Andrew Kubuski led off the inning with a high, chopped single over the third baseman's head and into left field. Rait would then sacrifice Kubuski to second, and a Basalyga groundout would move him to third.

Brian Bien, who struggled defensively for much of Tuesday's action, would get revenge with a game-winning RBI single past a diving second baseman to score Kubuski and give the Falcons the lead for good.

Devin Daugherty, who came on in relief of Tyler Anderson, would close out the game. Daugherty pitched five innings in relief, allowing just four hits and striking out four Bulldog hitters. He did not allow an earned run in picking up his first win of the season.

Anderson was impressive in his first career start - and appearance - pitching four strong innings before giving way to Daugherty.

In the first game of the day, the Falcons were defeated by Illinois State 11-3. Bowling Green made seven errors on Tuesday in their doubleheader split.

The highlight of the first game was a three-run sixth inning by the Orange and Brown, led by a plethora of pinch hitters. Trey Keegan, who had been a defensive replacement for T.J. Losby earlier in the game, led off the bottom of the sixth with a single. Pinch-hitter Jesse Rait would double down the right field line, moving Keegan to third. The next pinch hitter, Matt Smith, would single through the infield to score Keegan and move Rait all the way to third. Rait would score on a double play to close the gap to 6-2. Basalyga would then step up to the dish and smoke a line-drive home run down the left field line, the first of his career, to cap the three-run frame.

Brett Fitzwater was tabbed with the loss, dropping his overall record to 0-1 on the season. Trevor Blaylock, Chris Miller, and Kevin Delapaz would all appear in relief, but an early 6-0 deficit would be too much for the Falcons to overcome in the game.

Bowling Green will continue play at the Central Florida Russ Matt Invitational on Wednesday afternoon when they take on Evansville. First pitch will be at 3:30 p.m. against the Purple Aces at Chain O' Lakes Park.