Three-Run Eighth Propels Falcons To Thrilling Come-From-Behind Win

Tuesday, April 14

Bowling Green, Ohio

3:05 pm ET

Bowling Green State University

12-19

Eastern Michigan

13-23

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

Three-Run Eighth Propels Falcons To Thrilling Come-From-Behind Win

April 14, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio—The Bowling Green State University baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on Tuesday, propelling them to a 4-2 victory over Eastern Michigan at Warren E. Steller Field. After surrendering two runs in the top half of the inning, the Falcons scored three runs with two outs to secure the comeback win. With the triumph, the Falcons are now 12-19 on the season. Eastern Michigan drops to 13-23 with the loss.

With two outs and a runner on second base in the bottom of the eighth, Greg Basalyga singled up the middle to bring home Addison Rospert and tie the game at two runs apiece. On the very next pitch, true freshman Randy Righter smashed a two-run home run over the wall in left field to give the Falcons the lead for good.

Bowling Green starting pitcher Jevon Boyd was outstanding on the mound Tuesday afternoon, tossing six shutout innings. It was the second time in the last seven days that he has faced the EMU lineup, throwing four innings in a start last Wednesday in Ypsilanti. Boyd allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out a career-best three batters. He earned a no-decision in the game.

The Falcons took a 1-0 lead against the Eagles in the bottom of the second inning, as cleanup hitter Matt Smith got things started with a single down the right field line. After advancing to second base on a single by Righter, the Eagles nearly turned an inning-ending double play to get out of the jam. With one out, Hunter Clanin lined a shot off EMU pitcher Adam Hornstra's left shoulder, which deflected right to the shortstop for the second out. The Eagles couldn't turn the double play, though, and Tyler Greiner made them pay with an RBI single up the middle to score Smith for an early lead.

In the top of the third inning, Boyd got out of a mini jam with the help of his defense. After EMU got a runner to second base with one out, a nice running catch by Clanin in right-centerfield turned into a double play as his throw back to Brian Bien at second beat the runner to end the inning.

Boyd cruised through both the fourth and fifth innings, but ran into some trouble in the top of the sixth. With the Falcons holding just a narrow 1-0 lead, EMU got a leadoff double to start the frame. After a groundout moved the runner to third, Boyd got a big strikeout for the second out. The Falcons then opted to walk the next batter to provide a better matchup for the right-handed pitcher, and it paid off as Boyd got the next batter looking on strikes to end the inning.

After six strong innings, Boyd gave way to junior Devin Daugherty. After working an efficient seventh inning, Daugherty got into a little bit of trouble in the top of the eighth. The first two Eagles singled in the inning, and a strikeout and stolen base put two in scoring position with just one out. The Falcons then chose to issue an intentional walk to load the bases with one out. The next batter was able to reach on an error, as a ball got under the glove of a Falcon infielder to score two runs and give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. Daugherty worked around the error from there with two consecutive outs to end the inning and keep it at a one-run deficit.

In the bottom of the eighth, Trey Keegan lined a one-out double into the left field corner to get things going. He was then lifted for Rospert, the pinch-runner. With two outs, Rospert still found himself at second base representing the tying run.

With the pinch-hitter Basalyga at the plate, a controversial foul ball was called on a 2-1 pitch, making the count 2-2. Basalyga wouldn't let the call affect him, as he lined the next pitch up the middle for a game-tying, RBI single.

Righter, the very next batter, wasted no time either, as EMU pitcher Austin Wilson grooved a fastball which he smashed into the wind and over the wall in left field to give the Falcons a 4-2 lead. For Righter, it was his second home run in as many games and his fifth of the season.

From there, true freshman Kody Brown entered the game on the mound and retired the Eagles in order to preserve the exciting victory and lock down his second save of the season.

The Falcons will continue their home stand this weekend when they welcome the Western Michigan Broncos to town for a three-game series. The Falcons and Broncos enter the weekend tied in the MAC standings for seventh-place with identical 5-7 records in league play. First pitch of the series will be Friday (April 17) afternoon at 3:05 p.m. Both Saturday and Sunday will start at 1:05 p.m.