Falcons Slowly But Surely Pull Away From JSU, 7-0

Sunday, March 12

Oxford, MS

9:00 AM CT

Bowling Green State University

14-12

Jackson State

7-16

Bowling Green

Jackson State

Aspen Searle v Tiffin - Oct 2016 - Paul Duncan photo

Aspen Searle's game-high three hits included two doubles (Paul Duncan photo)

March 12, 2017 | Softball

Box Score

BGSU finishes Ole Miss Classic with four-straight wins

By: OXFORD, Miss. (BGSU Athletic Communications)

The Bowling Green State University softball team scored in each of the final five innings Sunday morning (March 12), slowly pulling away from Jackson State University en route to a 7-0 win. The game, the Falcons' final contest in the Ole Miss Classic, was held at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.

Sophomore Brooke Parker picked up her second win in as many games for the Falcons (14-12), who won four consecutive games after dropping the tournament opener to the nationally-ranked host school.

"Today was a good wrapup to our spring break trip," said BGSU head coach Sarah Willis. "We are looking to carry the momentum from the week into the remaining part of our preseason schedule. There were lots of positives to take from the circle, defense, and offense. The team is really starting to come together."

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Redshirt junior Aspen Searle led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and one run batted in. Sophomore Alex Sorgi, like Searle, scored a pair of runs in the game, and Sorgi has now reached base in 12 consecutive contests.

The Falcons left the bases loaded in the first inning, and the game was scoreless after two. But, in the final five frames, BGSU scored at least once in every inning, while Parker held the Tigers off of the board inning after inning.

The shutout was the fourth thrown by BGSU pitching this season, after the Falcons had one shutout during all of last year.

BG, as mentioned, missed an early opportunity to get on the board. With one out in the top of the first, freshman Kendyl Wheeler drew a walk against JSU starter Symone Williams, and Searle followed with a single, with the runners moving up on a Tiger error. Redshirt junior Chelsea Raker walked to load the bases with one down, but Williams got a grounder that resulted in a force play at the plate, then another ground ball that turned into the third out of the inning.

JSU got a leadoff single and a one-out walk in the bottom of the inning. But, Parker needed just six pitches to strike out the next two batters. She got an 0-2 count on both Alexis Hansard and Queen Briggs, then got each batter to swing and miss for strike three.

The second inning saw freshman Logan Everett draw a leadoff walk, but the Tigers got a double play and a liner to right field. And, in the bottom of the inning, Sierra Smith led off with a double, then took third on a sacrifice bunt by Ariana Cruz. But, Parker induced the next two hitters each to hit a grounder to the left side of the infield, and Smith was stranded at third. Then, the Falcons got on the scoreboard in the third.

Sorgi led off with a single through the left side of the JSU infield, and Wheeler's sac bunt send the sophomore to second. Then, Searle ripped a double to right to plate Sorgi with what would prove to be the winning run. Raker followed with a single to put runners at the corners, and senior Haley Schrock's sacrifice fly enabled Searle to tag and score to double the BG lead.

After Parker retired the Tigers in order in the home half of the third, the Falcons upped the lead to three runs in the fourth. Everett led off with a base hit and moved to second on a passed ball. After freshman Taylor Blevins walked on four pitches, sophomore Hannah Giammarino's sac bunt put both runners in scoring position, and a Sorgi grounder scored Everett.

JSU looked to mount a two-out rally in the fourth, as Smith singled and Cruz walked, but Parker got Chris Johnson to hit a grounder back to the circle, firing the ball to Raker at first for our number three.

Then, in the fifth, Raker walked with one out, and freshman pinch-runner Makayla Wood took second on a passed ball. Senior Sami Parave singled to send Wood to third, and Wood scored BGSU's fourth run of the day on a wild pitch by Williams.

Parker worked a one-two-three fifth inning, then allowed a leadoff single to Victoria Nelson in the sixth. But, Nelson was caught stealing, as catcher Everett fired to second baseman Blevins for the second out of the frame. Parker then struck out Briggs.

Meanwhile, Blevins singled and stole second with one out in the sixth, and Giammarino walked. Giammarino was erased on Sorgi's grounder, but Wheeler reached on a JSU error, with both Blevins and Sorgi scoring.

Then, in the seventh, Searle led off with her second double of the game, took third on Raker's grounder and scored on Schrock's second sac fly of the morning. The Falcons threatened to make it an eight-run game as Parave reached on an error and promptly stole third, but Williams got an inning-ending strikeout.

Parker allowed a one-out infield single in the bottom of the seventh, and a sac bunt put a Tiger runner on second with two outs. Senior Briana Combs entered the game and struck out Katlynn Harvey to close out the victory.

Parker, as mentioned, earned her second win in as many games. and improved to 3-5 on the year. She scattered five hits and did not allow a run, walking two batters and striking out five. Parker threw 87 pitches, including 58 strikes, in the win.

Williams took the loss, allowing five earned runs in her complete-game effort. She gave up eight hits and issued six walks with one strikeout.

At the plate, Smith led the Tigers with a pair of hits in three at-bats, while Cruz was 1-for-1 with a walk.

The Falcons now return to the Midwest, and BGSU's next scheduled game is a Wednesday (March 15) contest against the nationally-ranked University of Michigan. That game is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.