Falcons Clinch Spot In MAC Tournament On Smith’s Walk-Off Blast

Friday, May 15

Bowling Green, Ohio

3:05 pm ET

Bowling Green State University

22-27, 13-13

Buffalo

16-34, 7-19

Buffalo

Bowling Green

Falcons Clinch Spot In MAC Tournament On Smith’s Walk-Off Blast

May 15, 2015 | Baseball

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By: by Scott Swegan, BGSU Athletic Communications

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio—Matt Smith sent a two-run blast to right-centerfield in the bottom of the 11th inning on Friday, lifting the Falcons to a thrilling, come-from-behind, 13-11 victory over Buffalo to clinch their spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. With the win, the Falcons are now 22-27 overall and 13-13 in MAC play.

HERE IT IS! @mremington10 (Matt Smith) walk-off home run! Falcons are going to Avon! pic.twitter.com/DgzojomyQ6
— BGSU Baseball (@WEAREBGBaseball) May 15, 2015

"What a way to clinch your spot in the MAC Tournament!" head coach Danny Schmitz said. "After jumping out to an early lead, we fell behind big today, but we didn't hang our heads. Our relief pitching was outstanding and our offense did an excellent job of playing with energy, putting good swings on the ball, and we were able to come away with the thrilling win."

After falling behind 10-4 in the third inning, the Falcons offense came to life, hitting a season-high four home runs in the victory. Smith, who hit two in the game, was joined by teammates Greg Basalyga (4th of season) and Nick Glanzman (1st career) in the home run column. For the Falcons, their 22 home runs on the season are the most since the 2010 campaign.

The Falcons jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning off Buffalo starter Anthony Magovney, but the lead was short-lived as the Bulls scored five runs, all with two outs, in the top of the second to take the lead. Buffalo followed up the five-run second with a five-run third, leading the Falcons 10-5 after three innings of play.

Bowling Green scored single runs in each of the third and fourth innings to creep to within four, at 10-6, but Buffalo extended the lead back out to five runs with an unearned tally in the top of the fifth inning.

But, much like he has all season, Brandon Howard provided the BGSU offense with a spark when he took a pitch in the back to begin the bottom of the fifth inning. Howard then stole second to move into scoring position. Howard, with his three stolen bases in the game, has overtaken Buffalo's Nick Sinay for the lead in the MAC with 39 this season.

After a groundout moved Howard to third, Matt Smith singled him home with a lined shot to left. For Smith, who tied his career-high with three hits, it was one of a career-high five RBI in the ballgame.

Basalyga then stepped to the dish and made it a two run game, blasting his fourth home run of the season to the trees over the left field wall to score Smith. Basalyga's two-run home run made it an 11-9 score.

Nick Glanzman and Randy Righter singled later in the inning, before Brian Bien tied the game up with a double into the left-centerfield gap to knock Magovney out of the ballgame.

Neither team would score until the 11th, as Devin Daugherty, Kody Brown, and Tony Landi shut down the Bulls over the final 6.1 innings. Landi was credited with the win, as he went 3.1 innings pitching for the second straight day.

The performance by the Falcon bullpen set up the heroics in the bottom of the 11th. Howard got the inning started with a single up the middle and stole second to move into scoring position. Although he advanced to third on a lineout to centerfield by Keegan, it wouldn't matter as Smith hit the first pitch he saw over the wall to send the Falcons to Avon.

Bowling Green, currently 13-13 in the MAC, sits in a four-way tie for 5th-place following Friday's games. With one day left in the regular season, BGSU currently holds the No. 7 seed and would play the No. 2 seed in the first round.

The Falcons and Bulls will wrap up the regular season with Bowling Green's "Friends of Jaclyn Day" on Saturday afternoon. Saturday will also serve as Senior Day, as five Falcons—Brian Bien, Trevor Blaylock, Brandon Howard, Jason Link, and Jesse Rait—will be honored during a pregame ceremony. New head men's basketball coach Michael Huger will throw out the first pitch prior to the 1:05 p.m. start time.