Falcons Split With North Florida On Tuesday Evening

Tuesday, March 11

Jacksonville, FL

4 P.M.

Bowling Green State University

5-13-1

North Florida

17-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Bowling Green	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3
North Florida	0	0	0	0	0	4	X	4	4	0

March 11, 2014 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Falcons recieved strong pitching throughout the day to earn a split with North Florida in mid-week action.

By: by BGSU Athletic Communications

BOXSCORES: Game One | Game Two

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Bowling Green State University softball team rebounded in the second game of their doubleheader, defeating the University of North Florida by a score of 2-1 at the UNF Softball Complex. Playing for the first time outside of a tournament format in program's history, the Falcons (6-13-1) fell to the Ospreys, 4-0, in the first game of the day.

Behind strong pitching and holding off a late seventh inning rally, the Falcons' two runs on six hits proved to be enough in game two. The Orange and Brown got a resilient pitching performance from sophomore Braiden Dillow and a hard-nose defensive effort late in the game to hold off the Ospreys.

"Game two we attacked in all facets of the game," Falcons head coach Shannon Salsburg said. "Braiden (Dillow) pitched outstanding and our hitters put pressure on their defense."

Dillow (3-4), who was credited with the win, allowed one unearned run on seven hits in 6.1 innings of work in the circle for the Orange and Brown. The Lucasville, Ohio, native pitched into the seventh inning before junior Jamie Kertes came in and recorded the final two outs of the contest for her first save of the season.

Five different Falcons recorded at least one hit in the game, as freshman Chelsea Raker led the team by going 2-for-2 with an RBI in the contest. Amanda Durham (1-for-4), Katie Yoho (1-for-3), Aspen Searle (1-for-3) and Marisa Shook (1-for-3) all recorded a hit for Bowling Green in the game.

Yoho extended her hitting streak to six games with her single in the fourth inning. During the six-game stretch, Yoho has batted .411 (7-for-17) to lead the Falcons offensively.

Scoreless through the first three frames, the Orange and Brown got on the board first with a run in the top of the fourth inning. After Raker got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Yoho singled through the left side of the infield to put runners on first and second. Bowling Green's Trista Mokienko then hit a sharp ground ball that North Florida's third basemen could not handle and allowed the Falcons to take a 1-0 lead.

The Orange and Brown doubled their lead with another run in the top of the fifth inning. After two quick outs, the Falcons got back-to-back hits from Durham and Raker to push their lead to 2-0. Raker's two-out double was her third of the season, and was her eighth RBI on the season.

Dillow, meanwhile, shutdown the Ospreys in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the game at 2-0. After getting out of jam in the bottom of the fourth inning, Dillow retired the side in order in back-to-back innings to keep the game at 2-0 entering the seventh inning.

After recording one quick out in the bottom of the seventh, the Ospreys next three batters reached base for a late inning rally. After a sacrifice fly to cut Bowling Green's lead to 2-1, Kertes forced a ground out to third base to end the game.

"It was great to see us slam the door shut in the seventh," Salsburg said.

In game one, starting pitcher Kertes was credited with the loss in a gutsy performance, allowing four unearned runs on four hits in six innings of work. The Carnegie, Pa., native allowed only one hit through the first five frames to keep the Ospreys scoreless until the sixth inning.

"I am proud of the fight the team had today," Salsburg said. "Jamie (Kertes) pitched outstanding against a strong offensive team."

Bowling Green was led offensively by Haley Schrock (1-for-3) and Yoho (1-for-3), as the two combined for the lone hits of the game for the Orange and Brown.

In what became a pitchers' duel between Kertes and North Florida's starting pitcher Kaylie Wallace, the Falcons threatened in the top half of the fifth inning. Yoho started the inning with a leadoff single to right field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Aspen Searle. Yoho advanced to third base but the Falcons were unable to capitalize for the game's first run.

North Florida, however, capitalized on two Falcons' errors, scoring four runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. The scoring outburst proved to be enough, as the Ospreys defeated the Orange and Brown.

"Game one was a tough loss," Salsburg said. "We have been so solid all year defensively and errors in the sixth on routine balls really cost us."

The Falcons will be back in action next Tuesday (March 18), playing visitor to the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Orange and Brown and the Wolverines will play a single game at the Wilpon Complex at 4 p.m.