Falcons Plate 18 Runs In Doubleheader Sweep Over Buffalo

Friday, April 18

Buffalo, NY

1 P.M.

Bowling Green State University

19-21-1, 5-6

Buffalo

20-18, 4-3

Bowling Green

Buffalo

Chelsea Raker (pictured) went 3-for-6 and recorded four RBI on the day.

April 18, 2014 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Falcons improved to 6-6 in Mid-American Conference play.

By: by Jake Dorow, Athletic Communications

BOXSCORES (HTML): Game 1 | Game 2

BUFFALO, NY – The Bowling Green State University softball team kicked off their Mid-American Conference weekend by defeating the University at Buffalo twice on Friday (April 18) afternoon, earning a sweep over the Bulls at Nan Harvey Field. The Falcons (20-21-1, 6-6 MAC) took the first game by a 6-1 final before taking a 12-11 win over the Bulls (20-19, 4-4 MAC) to close out the evening.

The Orange and Brown outscored the Buffalo by an 18-12 margin on the day, and never trailed in either game to improve to 9-10 playing as the visitor on the scoreboard. With the two-game sweep, the Falcons extended their winning streak to a season-high four games and clawed back to .500 in MAC play.

"Today was big for us," Falcons head coach Shannon Salsburg said. "We found a way to sweep against a team that fought every step of the way."

Game One: Bowling Green 6, Buffalo 1
A pair of three-run innings combined with a courageous pitching effort from junior Jamie Kertes propelled the Falcons to a game one victory over Buffalo. The Orange and Brown plated six runs on six hits in the contest, as six different Falcons recorded one hit in the game to back Kertes' efforts in the circle.

Chelsea Raker, Erika Stratton, and Katie Yoho all had two RBI in the game, helping Bowling Green score six runs in a single game for the 12th time this season against an opponent. With the win, the Falcons improved to an 11-0-1 record when scoring at least six runs in a single contest, and holding its opponents to an average of 3.2 runs-per-game.

After Kertes surrendered only one hit in the first two frames, the Orange and Brown plated the first three runs of the game in the top half of the third inning. Two walks and a bunt single by freshman Amanda Durham led off the frame before Raker showed patience at the plate and penciled in a walk to plate the first run of the game. The inning continued when Stratton hit a two-out single to left field to score both Durham and Searle for two more runs, giving the Orange and Brown a 3-0 advantage.

The Bulls responded, scoring a run of their own in the bottom half of the home inning, but Kertes was near perfect for the remainder of the game. The Carnegie, Pa. native allowed just one hit over the final four innings to record her fifth complete game of the season.

"In game one, Jamie threw well," Salsburg said. "She commanded the zone and forced them to hit her pitches. The team was solid behind her and we hit early and often."

Meanwhile, the Falcons' offense backed Kertes to help win her 11th decision of the season. Leading by a score of 3-1, the Orange and Brown extended their lead with another three run inning in the top of the fifth. Freshman Aspen Searle singled to left field to lead off the frame to give the Orange and Brown a runner at first. Raker followed by recording her second RBI of the game, hitting a double to left center field to score Searle from first base. The red-hot bats continued as Yoho, who entered the game with six homers, continued the frame with a two-run home run over the center field fence to extend the Falcons' lead to 6-1.

The five-run lead would prove to be enough, as Kertes struck out seven total Bulls in the contest to keep Buffalo scoreless in six of the seven innings to earn their fifth MAC conference victory of the season.

Game Two: Bowling Green 12, Buffalo 11
The Orange and Brown's bats exploded for a season-high 12 runs in game two of Friday's twin bill—including a 12-for-21 performance from the top of the lineup for the Falcons—to outscore Buffalo in head-to-head offensive battle in the second tilt of Friday's MAC showdown.

Bowling Green's top of the lineup batted a combined .571 in the game, including two home runs and a career-high seven RBI from Yoho. In all, the Falcons' one through five hitters accounted for 12 hits, nine runs, and 10 RBI to help secure the sweep over the Bulls.

"Game two was a dogfight," Salsburg said. "I am so proud of our hitters as we kept scoring and attacking every pitch the entire game."

The Orange and Brown wasted no time to score the game's first runs, as the top of the lineup immediately made their presence felt. The first four batters reached base to begin the game,
including RBI singles by Raker and Yoho to quickly give BGSU a 3-0 lead.

After Buffalo answered with two runs in the home half of the first inning, the Orange and Brown again got the inning going at the top of the order. The Bulls recorded two quick outs in the top of the second, but had no answer for the Bowling Green's top of the lineup. Searle, Durham and Raker all singled to load the bases before Yoho followed with a two-out grand slam over the left field fence to push the Falcons' lead to 7-2.

The Orange and Brown's red-hot bats continued in the top of the third, scoring a pair of runs to push their lead to 9-2. With the help of three errors by the Buffalo defense, both Emily McClelland and Trista Mokienko crossed the plate to give BGSU their largest lead of the game.

However, the Bulls fought back with a six runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull within 9-8. Despite the comeback attempt, the Falcons never allowed the Buffalo to score the game-tying run, as Bowling Green relied on their offensive outburst to again give them a four-run cushion with three more runs in the top of the fifth.

A 12-8 lead was cut to 12-11 with three answered runs in the home half of the fifth inning, but sophomore Braiden Dillow pitched two scoreless innings to close the game. Dillow, who started in the circle for the Falcons, came back into the game to relieve Kertes. The Lucasville, Ohio native earned her second save of the season by allowing just one hit over the final six outs.

"Braiden struggled early but went back to work in the bullpen," Salsburg said. "She did a good job of coming back strong and finishing out the game."

For the day, five Falcons recorded at least three hits to help BGSU compile a .311 batting average on the day. The Orange and Brown totaled 19 hits, three doubles, two homers, and 16 RBI against Buffalo. Yoho led Bowling Green offensively for the day, going 4-for-9 (.444) with one double and two home runs for nine RBI. Durham also recorded four hits in the two games, going 4-for-8 (.500) with a double, while Stratton (3-for-5), Raker (3-for-6) and Searle (3-for-8) all recorded three hits.

Bowling Green will be right back in action Saturday (April 19) afternoon, taking on Kent State University in a single game affair. The tilt will be the first of two MAC weekend games, as the Falcons and Golden Flashes will play their second game of the two-game set on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.