Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, March 14
Auburndale, Fla.
10:15 a.m. ET
Bowling Green State University
6
vs
8
Cornell
Falcons Come Up Short Against Cornell In 8-6 Loss
March 14, 2015 | Baseball
Final Statistics: HTML | PDF
AUBURNDALE, Fla.—The Bowling Green State University baseball team scored five runs in their final three at-bats, but could not overcome an 8-1 deficit in a loss to Cornell University on Saturday morning. The game against the Big Red was the final game of the Falcons' eight-game spring break trip, which saw them play a three-game series at Campbell last weekend before playing five games in Winter Haven, Fla. as part of the RussMatt Invitational. With the 8-6 setback, Bowling Green falls to 5-9 on the season.
"This was a tough loss to end our spring trip, but it was encouraging to see some of the guys step up and take advantage of a chance late in the game," head coach Danny Schmitz said. "We need to refocus now and get ready to start MAC play next week."
Bowling Green was faced with a tough task, as Cornell sent prospect Brian McAfee to the mound against the Falcons. Last time out, McAfee went seven scoreless innings while striking out seven against the Virginia Cavaliers—one of the nation's top baseball programs.
The Falcons would strike early against McAfee, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Matt Smith started the inning with a single into right field. After a fielder's choice, the Falcons had Jesse Rait on first base with two outs later in the inning. Tyler Greiner, who had two hits in the game, then doubled into the right-center gap to score Rait from first and give the Falcons an early lead.
The Big Red wouldn't allow the Falcons' lead to hold up for long, as Cornell struck for three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. After a misplayed double to left field, a single and error tied the ballgame at one run apiece. After a walk and groundout, a two-out double down the right field line put Cornell ahead 3-1.
With the lead, McAfee settled in from there for the Big Red, allowing just two hits over the final four innings of work. On the day he pitched 6.0 innings, striking out three and surrendering just four hits to earn his first win of the season.
Trailing 8-1 when McAfee left the ballgame, Bowling Green sensed new life. Schmitz went to his bench in the seventh inning, and saw it pay off as Derek Drewes began the inning by reaching on a hit-by-pitch. A Jesse Rait single up the middle gave the Falcons two runners on with nobody out for Justin Mott, another pinch-hitter off the Falcons' bench. Mott chopped a slow roller to third, and it appeared he had beaten the throw, but was called out on the bang-bang play for the first out of the inning. Brandon Howard walked with two outs to load the bases, and Drewes came home on a passed ball to make it 8-2.
Tony Landi entered the game on the mound for the Falcons in the bottom of the seventh and did his job, tossing two scoreless innings in relief for the Orange and Brown to hold Cornell.
In the top of the eighth, freshman Cody Callaway tripled to left center with one out in the inning and scored on a single to left by Smith. After Drewes and Rait walked, Mott grounded out to bring another run home and make it 8-4.
The score remained 8-4 into the top of the ninth, when Dustin Peper got things started with a leadoff walk. After a single and wild pitch, Callaway stepped to the plate and delivered a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield to bring the Falcons within two, at 8-6.
Cornell turned to the bullpen with the tying run at the plate and put the ball in the hand of Paul Balestrieri. Balestrieri shut it down for the Big Red, striking out the next two batters to give them the 8-6 win.
The Falcons, after playing their first 14 games on the road, will now return to Northwest Ohio for their home opener which is scheduled to be Wednesday afternoon against Youngstown State. That game is slated for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch at Warren E. Steller Field. Following the midweek game against the Penguins, the Falcons will play host to Ball State to begin Mid-American Conference play. The Falcons and Cardinals will play their three-game series beginning on Friday, March 20.
AUBURNDALE, Fla.—The Bowling Green State University baseball team scored five runs in their final three at-bats, but could not overcome an 8-1 deficit in a loss to Cornell University on Saturday morning. The game against the Big Red was the final game of the Falcons' eight-game spring break trip, which saw them play a three-game series at Campbell last weekend before playing five games in Winter Haven, Fla. as part of the RussMatt Invitational. With the 8-6 setback, Bowling Green falls to 5-9 on the season.
"This was a tough loss to end our spring trip, but it was encouraging to see some of the guys step up and take advantage of a chance late in the game," head coach Danny Schmitz said. "We need to refocus now and get ready to start MAC play next week."
Bowling Green was faced with a tough task, as Cornell sent prospect Brian McAfee to the mound against the Falcons. Last time out, McAfee went seven scoreless innings while striking out seven against the Virginia Cavaliers—one of the nation's top baseball programs.
The Falcons would strike early against McAfee, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Matt Smith started the inning with a single into right field. After a fielder's choice, the Falcons had Jesse Rait on first base with two outs later in the inning. Tyler Greiner, who had two hits in the game, then doubled into the right-center gap to score Rait from first and give the Falcons an early lead.
The Big Red wouldn't allow the Falcons' lead to hold up for long, as Cornell struck for three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. After a misplayed double to left field, a single and error tied the ballgame at one run apiece. After a walk and groundout, a two-out double down the right field line put Cornell ahead 3-1.
With the lead, McAfee settled in from there for the Big Red, allowing just two hits over the final four innings of work. On the day he pitched 6.0 innings, striking out three and surrendering just four hits to earn his first win of the season.
Trailing 8-1 when McAfee left the ballgame, Bowling Green sensed new life. Schmitz went to his bench in the seventh inning, and saw it pay off as Derek Drewes began the inning by reaching on a hit-by-pitch. A Jesse Rait single up the middle gave the Falcons two runners on with nobody out for Justin Mott, another pinch-hitter off the Falcons' bench. Mott chopped a slow roller to third, and it appeared he had beaten the throw, but was called out on the bang-bang play for the first out of the inning. Brandon Howard walked with two outs to load the bases, and Drewes came home on a passed ball to make it 8-2.
Tony Landi entered the game on the mound for the Falcons in the bottom of the seventh and did his job, tossing two scoreless innings in relief for the Orange and Brown to hold Cornell.
In the top of the eighth, freshman Cody Callaway tripled to left center with one out in the inning and scored on a single to left by Smith. After Drewes and Rait walked, Mott grounded out to bring another run home and make it 8-4.
The score remained 8-4 into the top of the ninth, when Dustin Peper got things started with a leadoff walk. After a single and wild pitch, Callaway stepped to the plate and delivered a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield to bring the Falcons within two, at 8-6.
Cornell turned to the bullpen with the tying run at the plate and put the ball in the hand of Paul Balestrieri. Balestrieri shut it down for the Big Red, striking out the next two batters to give them the 8-6 win.
The Falcons, after playing their first 14 games on the road, will now return to Northwest Ohio for their home opener which is scheduled to be Wednesday afternoon against Youngstown State. That game is slated for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch at Warren E. Steller Field. Following the midweek game against the Penguins, the Falcons will play host to Ball State to begin Mid-American Conference play. The Falcons and Cardinals will play their three-game series beginning on Friday, March 20.
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