BGSU captures weather-shortened final game of CMU series Saturday
By: MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (BGSU Athletic Communications)
The Bowling Green State University softball team put together a five-run fourth inning, erasing a one-run deficit en route to a 5-3 win over Central Michigan University Saturday afternoon (March 25). The Mid-American Conference contest was held at a rainy Margo Jonker Stadium.
The game was shortened to five innings due to weather conditions in Mount Pleasant.
All nine players in the lineup for the Falcons (15-19, 1-2 MAC) reached base via hit or walk in the win. All eight of BGSU's hits in the game came in the final three innings, with four coming in that five-run fourth.
For Central Michigan (17-8, 2-1 MAC), the loss snapped a nine-game winning streak.
Sophomore Alex Sorgi was the only player from either team with a multiple-hit game. Sorgi was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a run batted in.
Sophomore Meredith Miller (8-4) picked up the win, allowing two earned runs in her complete-game effort.
On a cold, rainy day in Mount Pleasant, the Falcons put a pair of runners on base in the first inning. Senior Haley Schrock, batting in the number-two spot in the order for the first time this season, drew a one-out walk, and a two-out base on balls to redshirt junior Chelsea Raker put Falcons at first and second. But, CMU starter Rachael Knapp (10-4) struck out the next batter to escape the jam.
Miller retired the Chippewas in order in the bottom of the first, before Knapp returned the favor in the BG half of the second. Erika Underwood, who had five RBI in CMU's Friday doubleheader sweep of the Falcons, singled to begin the home half of the second. But, pinch-runner Andrea Perlberg was cut down trying to steal second base, as BG junior catcher Laine Simmons rifled the ball to second in plenty of time to record the out. Miller allowed a two-out walk, but then got Taylor Lewallen to hit an inning-ending fly ball to center.
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Aspen Searle tags out CMU's Andrea Perlberg attempting to
steal second base during second-inning action Saturday
BG threatened to break on top in the third. Freshman Kendyl Wheeler led off with a single to left, and Sorgi followed with a bunt single that put two runners on base. Schrock's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, respectively, but the Chippewas escaped the inning unscathed. Redshirt junior Aspen Searle's liner was caught by right fielder Evelyn Lorimer, who then fired home to get Wheeler attempting to score. The inning-ending double play kept the game scoreless for the time being.
In the bottom of the third, however, CMU broke that scoreless draw with an unearned run. Lorimer reached on a one-out error, and moved to second on a bunt single by Lacy Tolfree. Then, Allison Curtis was safe on another error, advancing to second on a wild throw as Tolfree took third and Lorimer scored. Miller responded by getting Maison Kalina to hit a grounder back to the circle, looking the speedy Tolfree back to third before firing to first for the second out. Underwood walked to load the bases, but pinch-hitter Sydney Heath hit a fly ball to Sorgi in left to retire the side.
BG bounced back in a big way, scoring five times in the fourth. Raker led off with a walk, and one out later, a CMU error put two runners aboard. Senior Sami Parave hit a grounder, and pinch-runner Katee Hinkle was safe at second when the throw was off-line.
Sophomore Hannah Giammarino lined a single to right to load the bases, and freshman Taylor Blevins followed with a single up the middle that scored Hinkle and tied the game. Parave was forced at the plate on a grounder by Wheeler for the second out, but Sorgi beat out an infield single, with Giammarino scoring the go-ahead run.
Then, Schrock's hard grounder to short was misplayed for an error, and Blevins scored. Searle followed by hitting a liner that grazed off the top of the glove of leaping third baseman Lewallen and went down the left-field line to score both Wheeler and Sorgi. Raker, after hitting a ball that had home-run distance, but was just foul, was retired for the third out, but BG had a 5-1 lead.
CMU bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Rachel Vieira hit a blooper that landed in shallow right between three Falcons, despite a nice diving effort by rightfielder Wheeler. With one out, Danielle Marlink singled through the left side, and one out later, Tolfree walked to load the bases.Curtis followed with a single that plated two teammates, before Miller induced Kalina to hit a fly ball to Wheeler for the third out.
In the fifth, Simmons led off with a single to center, and Parave singled over third baseman Lewallen. Giammarino's sac bunt advanced the runners, but Knapp kept her team's deficit at two runs by getting a popup to second and a liner to Lewallen.
In the bottom of the inning, Kayla Noch – who had entered the game at shortstop immediately after a CMU error in the fourth – singled just over the glove of a leaping Searle, and Lewallen singled to put the tying run on base with two outs. But, Miller got Marlink to hit a one-hopper to Schrock at third, and the senior fired to Raker for the final out.
"Our offense did a nice job in their approach to Knapp," said BGSU head coach Sarah Willis. "The lineup was able to adjust and challenged the defense, coming up with timely hits and forcing errors.Â
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"Miller did a great job in the circle, not allowing the weather to impact her performance. She was smart in her approach to their lineup, and made good adjustments throughout the game today."
The Falcons are idle until next weekend, when BGSU heads to the MAC's "West Coast" for a three-game series with Northern Illinois University. The Falcons and Huskies are slated to play a Friday (March 31) single game followed by a Saturday (April 1) doubleheader.
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