Six-Run Seventh Leads BGSU Past Dayton

Tuesday, May 12

Bowling Green, Ohio

3:05 pm ET

Bowling Green State University

20-27

Dayton

14-37

Dayton

Bowling Green

May 12, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

Final Statistics: HTML | PDF

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio—The Bowling Green State University baseball team used a six-run seventh inning to pull away from the University of Dayton on Tuesday afternoon, defeating the Flyers by a final score of 9-1 at Warren E. Steller Field. With the win, the Falcons improved to 20-27 on the season.

"It was nice to return home and pick up a win over Dayton this afternoon," head coach Danny Schmitz said. "We have a big series at home this weekend against Buffalo to wrap up the regular season, and we hope to see a lot of Falcon fans out at Steller Field."

Redshirt senior Brandon Howard made history in the win, breaking the single-season record at BGSU with his 33rd stolen base of the season in the bottom of the first inning. Howard, who surpassed Brian Koelling's record which had stood since 1991, stole two bases in the game and now has 34 on the season.

Kory Brown set a new career-high in the game with four hits, as the Sparta, Mich. native went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Brian Bien, who entered the game in the sixth inning, was a perfect 2-for-2 to raise his average to .298.

On the mound, Rob Zenas made his first career start, tossing 4.0 innings and allowing just one run. Jevon Boyd came into the game in relief of Zenas, picking up his first career win in the Orange and Brown. Boyd went 5.0 innings and allowed just three hits while striking out two in the game. He did not allow a run to improve his record to 1-2 on the season.

Dayton got the scoring started in the top of the first, as the Flyers put together a two-out rally to bring a run across home plate. Matt Poland doubled past Greg Basalyga at third to start the rally, and following a walk, came home on a single by Dayton right fielder Zach Schira.

That, however, was all that the Flyers could muster in the game, as BGSU pitching shut down the UD offense over the final eight innings. The two Falcon pitchers combined to allow just five hits in the game's final eight frames.

BGSU tied the game in the bottom of the third, as three straight Falcons singled with two outs. Brown started things with a single deep in the hole at short, and Howard followed with a poke through the right side. Trey Keegan then brought Brown home from second on a single to center, knotting the game at a run apiece.

Bowling Green took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Addison Rospert scored the game-winning run. After walking to begin the inning, Rospert stole second to move into scoring position. Following a walk to Justin Mott, Rospert scored on a single by Brown through the left side.

The Falcons added a run to their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Nick Glanzman scored on a single off the bat of Jesse Rait. Glanzman had reached on an error earlier in the inning and advanced into scoring position on Bien's infield single.

The Orange and Brown stretched the narrow two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh, exploding for six runs to knock Dayton starter Ben Polansky out of the game. In the bottom of the seventh, BGSU recorded six hits to extend their lead to 9-1.

Four straight Falcons reached base to begin the six-run frame, before a sacrifice fly off the bat of Glanzman brought home the first run of the inning. After the second out was made, the next four Falcons reached base—including three via RBI single—to put the game out of reach.

Bowling Green continues their home stretch this weekend as they welcome the State University of New York at Buffalo to town for a three-game series. The Falcons, who currently control their own destiny as the No. 8 seed to qualify for the MAC Tournament, are 11-13 in league play. BGSU and Buffalo will play at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday, while both Friday and Saturday will start at 1:05 p.m.