Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
4-11-1
Western Carolina
9-12
Falcons Offense Explodes In 9-3 Win Over Pennsylvania
March 09, 2014 | Softball
Four Falcons totaled two hits in the game, including a two-run homer by senior Katie Yoho.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Bowling Green scored a season-high nine runs, including a four-run sixth inning, as the BGSU softball team defeated the University of Pennsylvania by a score of 9-3 in the second game of their doubleheader on Saturday night (March 8). Earlier in the day, the Falcons (5-11-1) lost to Western Carolina 1-0.
After starting the UCF Spring Fling at the UCF Softball Complex totaling zero runs on six hits, the Falcons exploded at the plate against the Quakers, totaling 10 hits for nine runs to begin to round into form. The Falcons earned their first victory of the Spring Fling after dropping three games decided by a total of five runs.
The Orange and Brown were led offensively by Amanda Durham (2-for-4), Chelsea Raker (2-for-4), Erika Stratton (2-for-4, three RBI) and Katie Yoho (2-for-3, three RBI). Freshman Aspen Searle and Trista Mokienko also totaled one hit apiece in the game for the Falcons.
"I was please with the way the team rebounded in the second game," Falcons head coach Shannon Salsburg said. "We came out aggressive and attacked from the first pitch."
Junior pitcher Jamie Kertes got the call to start in the circle for Bowling Green. The Carnegie, Pa., native had arguably her best outing of the 2014 season, allowing seven hits and one earned run in seven innings of work. Kertes (3-7) also struck out six Quakers on the day to earn the decision.
The Orange and Brown wasted no time and got on the board in the first frame. After Durham and Raker reached base on consecutive plate appearances, Stratton singled through the right side for her first RBI in the game.
The Falcon then added to their lead with two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Durham once again reached base to begin the inning with a single. After back-to-back strikeouts, the Falcons got a timely single to left center from Yoho to score Durham. Searle then followed with another two-out base hit to score Yoho from second, giving Bowling Green a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Kertes shutdown the Quaker offensive attack, not allowing a run to cross the plate through the first four innings. The junior allowed only three hits over the first 12 outs of the game to help the Falcons build a 3-0 cushion.
After the Quakers cut the deficit to 3-2 after a two-run fifth, the Falcons scored six runs over the fifth and sixth inning to propel them to victory. Yoho's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth gave her two homers on the year and her ninth RBI on the season.
"Offensively, we got back to an attacking mentality which made a huge difference in the outcome of the game," Salsburg said.
In the opening game of the day, Bowling Green was held to two hits in a 1-0 loss to Western Carolina. Sophomore pitcher Braiden Dillow and Kertes combined to allow just one earned runs and six hits to the Catamounts' offense.
"We didn't attack and we put ourselves in poor counts tto make things happen," Salsburg said. "We are an offense built on manufacturing runs and must be constantly on the attack."
Freshman Haley Schrock and Yoho recorded the two hits in the game for the Falcons. Schrock went 1-for-2 in game one, while Yoho went 1-for-3 in the contest against WCU.
Bowling Green will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, taking on host University of Central Florida at the UCF Spring Fling. The game will be the final game of the weekend tournament for the Orange and Brown. First pitch is scheduled to be at 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Garrett (2-8)
L: Dillow, Braiden (2-4)
Batting:
RBI: Sigmon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Griffin 1
HBP: Kimrey 1
