Four-Run First Lifts No. 19 Michigan Past Falcons, 7-1

Tuesday, March 21

Ann Arbor, MI

4:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

14-17

#19 Michigan

18-7-1

Bowling Green

Michigan

Hannah Giammarino v Tiffin - Oct 2016 - Paul Duncan photo

March 21, 2017 | Softball

Box Score

Giammarino has two of BGSU's five hits in Ann Arbor

By: ANN ARBOR, Mich. (BGSU Athletic Communications)

The University of Michigan took advantage of a two-out error, taking an early lead en route to a 7-1 win over the Bowling Green State University softball team Tuesday afternoon (March 21). The non-conference game was held at the Wilpon Complex.

Sophomore Hannah Giammarino had two of the Falcons' five hits, including an RBI single.

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The Wolverines, ranked No. 19 in the nation, scored four runs – all unearned – in the first inning to seize control of Tuesday's contest. Sophomore pitcher Brooke Parker allowed a leadoff hit to Natalie Peters, then a one-out infield dribbler off the bat of Kelly Christner. But, Parker got cleanup hitter Aiden Falk to hit a foul pop that shortstop Aspen Searle gloved behind third base.

However, an error on Tera Blanco's grounder loaded the bases and kept the inning alive, and Michigan (18-7-1) took advantage. A Parker pitch hit the foot of Abby Ramirez to force home a run, and a Lindsay Montemarano single scored another run. The next hitter, Amanda Vargas, also singled to plate a pair and give the hosts a 4-0 lead.

"I'm very proud of the way the team came back after that first inning," said BGSU head coach Sarah Willis. "The defense settled in a little bit better after that. Defensively, though, we need to find a way to be sharp from pitch one, especially when we're throwing some of our heavy drop-ball pitchers, where they're going to see a lot of action."

Parker allowed a leadoff hit to Peters in the second inning, on a ball that rolled approximately five feet and died just inside the chalk baseline. But, the sophomore hurler got Faith Canfield to pop up to first base, induced Christner to ground out to second, and saw Searle grab Falk's soft liner.

But, Michigan added to the lead in the third. Blanco led off with a walk, and a Ramirez single up the middle put runners at first and second. Montemarano's blooper landed just inside the left-field line to load the bases, and a Vargas chopper bounced over the head of leaping second baseman Katee Hinkle and went into right field as a pair of runs scored.

Parker recovered, however, getting Katie Alexander to hit a popup to Searle for the first out. The Wolverines' two baserunners advanced to second and third on a Peters grounder, and Canfield drew a walk to load the bases once again. But, Parker got Christner, an All-American, to hit an inning-ending ground ball to Hinkle.

Parker allowed six runs, with only two of those runs earned, in her three innings of work, and sophomore Meredith Miller came on to begin the fourth. Miller surrendered just one run and two hits to the nationally-ranked Wolverines, striking out three without issuing a walk.

Miller allowed a solo homer to Alexander in the fifth, but the only other hit she surrendered was a Falk blooper that went just over the glove of Searle into shallow left in the fourth. Miller recovered in that fourth frame to retire the next three batters, with right fielder Kendyl Wheeler making a nice running catch of an Alex Sobczak liner. Miller set down the final five hitters she faced, striking out Christner to end the fifth and Madison Uden to complete the sixth.

Meanwhile, although the Falcons battled U-M starter Blanco through some lengthy at-bats, BG could not break through until the fifth. Junior Laine Simmons' high fly ball landed just shy of the left-field fence, with the catcher reaching second for a one-out double. Hinkle singled up the middle to send pinch-runner Makayla Wood to third base, and Giammarino followed with a base hit to left-center, with Wood scoring easily. But, Blanco was able to strike out the next batter, then get a grounder back to the circle that retired the side.

In the sixth, redshirt junior Chelsea Raker lined a ball to left-center, and the ball was hit so hard that she was held to a single. Senior Haley Schrock drew a walk to put a pair of runners aboard with two down, but Blanco got an inning-ending strikeout, then retired the side in order in the seventh.

Blanco allowed one run and five hits, walking one batter and striking out eight. She improved to 10-2 on the year.

Parker suffered the loss, despite throwing 40 strikes among her 59 pitches. Miller fired 53 pitches, including 35 for strikes, in her relief effort.

"Brooke Parker gave up only two earned runs today, and several times, she did not get the result she deserved after a good pitch," said Willis. "Meredith pitched very well in her three innings, too, shutting Michigan down for the most part.

"Looking at the score, it doesn't show how close this game actually could have been for us, on the road against a top-20 program. But, with the tough schedule and the tough competition our team has faced, it's getting easier for them to face this type of competition, and they know that we can play on this big of a stage."

The Falcons (14-17) now prepare for the start of Mid-American Conference play. BGSU will head to Mount Pleasant, Mich., for a three-game series vs. Central Michigan University this weekend (March 24-25). The teams are scheduled to play a single game Friday, followed by a Saturday doubleheader.