Falcons Fall In Series Finale To SEMO, 5-1

Saturday, February 14

Cape Girardeau, MO

12:00 pm ET

Bowling Green State University

1-2

Southeast Missouri State

2-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Bowling Green	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	9	3
Southeast Missouri	0	3	0	0	0	2	0	0	X	5	8	0

February 14, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

BGSU will play at Morehead State next weekend (Feb. 20-22)

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

Final Statistics
Postgame Audio: Schmitz

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.—Bowling Green was unable to overcome an early 3-0 deficit on Saturday afternoon, dropping the series finale to Southeast Missouri 5-1 at Capaha Field. With the loss, the Falcons drop to 1-2 on the season, while the Redhawks improved to 2-1 with the win.

"I thought that our first two pitchers struggled with location, but they battled and it was good to get their feet wet," head coach Danny Schmitz said. "Both Wes Rickenberg and Rob Zenas did a nice job. SEMO was able to keep our base stealers off the bases today and we weren't able to get the running game going like we need to. We outhit them 9-to-8, but need to take better advantage of those opportunities going forward in order to be successful."

Southeast Missouri threatened from the get-go off Falcons' starting pitcher Zac Carey, who was making his collegiate debut on the mound. Jason Blum, the Redhawks' leadoff hitter started the bottom of the first inning with a single and advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt by Carey. The London, Ohio native buckled down from there getting a strikeout, pop out, and ground out to escape the inning unscathed.

The Falcons were not able to hold the potentially potent Redhawks offense off the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning, as SEMO cracked three hits and benefitted from three free passes in a three-run inning to take an early lead.

It looked as if the Orange and Brown would come right back, as Cody Callaway and Kory Brown began the top of the third with singles. But, Southeast Missouri's Ryan Lenaburg, who was very impressive in his 2015 debut, was able to retire the next three Falcons in order to hold Bowling Green off the scoreboard in the inning. Lenaburg earned the win for the Redhawks' going 6.1 innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out eight.

After falling behind 5-0 following a two-run bottom of the sixth for Southeast Missouri, Randy Righter got Bowling Green on the board with his second home run of the season – this time a solo shot to left field. Righter's two home runs through three games in 2015 matches Bowling Green's 2014 high mark for most home runs on the team.

Schmitz would make several changes in the game's final innings, as several Falcons made their collegiate or season debuts. Justin Mott would come in behind the plate, while Derek Drewes was inserted into the game at shortstop. Hunter Clanin was inserted into the game in right field, while both Wes Rickenberg and Rob Zenas appeared in the game on the mound.

The Falcons will get back on the diamond next weekend, when they travel to Morehead, Ky. for a three-game series at Morehead State University (Feb. 20-22). Morehead State was selected to finish fifth in the OVC Preseason Poll. Friday's (Feb. 20) game is slated for a 3:00 pm ET first pitch.