Toledo Stops Falcons in Saturday Twinbill

Saturday, April 7

Toledo, OH

1:00 PM ET

Bowling Green State University

18-17, 1-7

Toledo

24-13, 8-1

Bowling Green

Toledo

Photo by: Larry Clapper

April 07, 2018 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Rockets rally late after Holcomb's game-one slam, & the hosts strike early in game two

By: TOLEDO, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Host Toledo rallied late to win Saturday's (April 7) first game, and the Rockets took an early lead in the second game, picking up a sweep of the Bowling Green State University softball team at UT's Scott Park. UT won the first game by a narrow 5-4 score, before posting a 5-1 win in game two.

LINKS
BGSU-UT STATISTICS: Game 1 | Game 2

Junior Kali Holcomb had a grand slam in the opener, with her blast coming after the Rockets had intentionally walked the previous BG batter, but the home team rallied for four runs in the fifth to retake the lead.

In the nightcap, UT homered in both the second and third frames to take a five-run lead.

QUOTING COACH WILLIS
"Obviously, this was a disappointing day, especially since we were in a position to close out a game late. A 4-1 lead should absolutely be enough. That's where we can't let up, and we need to make some small adjustments to make sure we close out that win."

"They got a little lucky as the winning run scored on a ball that hit off of an umpire, but certainly, we had a great opportunity to win that game, and if we had taken advantage of our opportunities, a play like that probably doesn't have a big impact on the outcome."

"In game two, they capitalized on (Meredith) Miller's misses, but when she was missing in the right direction, she was on, and she was getting outs. And, the defense played great behind her. We didn't do a good job of executing after getting leadoff hits. We had the leadoff runner at second, at third, and couldn't take advantage. In our preparation for next week's games, we need to work on doing the little things, and executing some of the small parts of the game that ultimately lead to wins."

BGSU-UT GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED

Each team had a first-inning double down the right-field line. For the Falcons in the top of the inning, freshman Sammy Dees was stranded at second after her hit. In the bottom of the inning, Kylie Norwood's leadoff hit was followed by a walk and a hit batter, as UT loaded the bases with two down. But, BG starter Brooke Parker's second strikeout of the inning ended the threat.
The Falcons put a pair of runners aboard in the second inning, as freshman Nikki Sorgi reached base on an error, and junior Kaylee Parker reached on a single to deep short. But, a grounder to second ended the half-inning.
Brooke Parker retired the Rockets in order in the bottom of the second, and the Falcons got two hits – including a double by senior Aspen Searle – in the top of the third, but the game remained scoreless.
UT broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Bekah Yenrick was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Brooke Parker set down the next two hitters, but an outfield error allowed pinch-runner Ami Ill to score from first.
BG, however, bounced back in a big way in the fifth. Junior Hannah Giammarino drew a one-out walk against UT starter Kailey Minarchick, and classmate Alex Sorgi's single up the middle put a pair of runners on base with one out. A Dees grounder put both runners in scoring position, and the Rockets then intentionally walked Searle to load the bases.
And, junior Kali Holcomb made them pay. The right fielder worked the count to 2-1, then blasted a Minarchick offering to center for a grand slam and a 4-1 lead.
UT's Bailey Curry walked with one out in the bottom of the inning, and Katie Cozy's double to left put runners at second and third. But, Brooke Parker struck out pinch-hitter Samantha Golden, then got Yenrick to ground out.
In the sixth, though, the Rockets broke through. An infield single, a walk and another hit loaded the bases with one out, and BG made a pitching change. Brittney Davis hit the first pitch she saw from reliever Meredith Miller, with Davis' flare going just over the outstretched glove of shortstop Searle for a two-run single.
With runners on second and third, the Falcons intentionally walked Curry to load the bases, and Miller then struck out Cozy for the second out of the inning. But, Ashley Rausch singled through the right side. The tying run scored, and the go-ahead run also scored easily after Rausch's bouncer hit the umpire and caromed toward center field. Miller struck out Yenrick, but UT had the lead.
In the seventh, Holcomb walked on four pitches after two were out, but reliever Heather Webb was able to get a popup to shortstop for the final out.

BGSU-UT GAME ONE – STATS & LEADERS

Leah Allison picked up the win in relief, for her first decision of the season. She pitched an inning and a third of scoreless, one-hit ball. Webb pitched the seventh inning and earned the save.
Both starters, BG's Parker (5.1 innings) and UT's Minarchick (4.2 innings), allowed four runs. Parker gave up three earned runs and just four hits, walking four batters and striking out seven.
At the plate, Alex Sorgi was 2-for-4, while Searle and Holcomb each had a hit and a walk. Searle's hit was a double, while Holcomb's was a grand slam.
Giammarino walked and scored a run, while Dees, Kaylee Parker and freshman Sarah Gonzalez each had a hit as BG held a 7-6 advantage in hits.
Norwood had two hits for the Rockets, while Curry walked in all four of her plate appearances. Both Davis and Rausch had two-run singles.

BGSU-UT GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED

The Rockets took the lead with a three-run homer in the second inning and a two-run shot in the third.
Dees reached base on a first-inning walk, while senior Laine Simmons was hit by a pitch in the second. Nikki Sorgi followed the Simmons HBP with a single, but Webb kept BG off the scoreboard.
The home half of the second inning saw Rausch hit by a pitch and Kaitlyn Bergman reach on a two-out walk. Then, Sam Showalter's homer to center gave the Rockets a three-run lead.
Alex Sorgi began the third with a single, and she went all the way to third when her liner skipped past right fielder Ill. But, Webb managed to keep the Falcons off of the board, getting back-to-back strikeouts followed by a liner to left.
And, in the bottom of the inning, Norwood led off with a single, and Curry homered to give the hosts a five-run lead.
BG got a run back in the fifth. Kaylee Parker led off with a double to the wall in right-center, and Alex Sorgi's grounder sent pinch-runner Payton Hamm to third. With two down, Searle lined a single to left to score Hamm.
Miller set down the Rockets in order in both the fifth and sixth innings, but the Falcons could not cut into the UT lead any further. Simmons doubled to begin the BG sixth, and Alex Sorgi singled with two outs in the seventh, lining a ball off of pitcher Webb. But, the Rockets kept the lead at four runs.

BGSU-UT GAME TWO – STATS & LEADERS

Both teams had six hits in Saturday's second game.
Alex Sorgi went 2-for-4 for the second-straight game, while Dees walked twice in four plate appearances.
UT's Showalter went 2-for-3 with the homer and three RBI, while Curry had a walk and a two-run shot.
Webb and Miller each threw a complete game, allowing six hits. Miller threw 59 of her 91 pitches for strikes.
The Falcons left eight runners on base to Toledo's four.

UP NEXT

The Falcons will host Miami University in a Wednesday (April 11) doubleheader at Meserve Field. That twinbill is set for a 1:00 p.m. start.
Then, BGSU returns to the road next weekend, heading to Western New York to face the University at Buffalo in a three-game series. The Falcons and Bulls will meet in a Friday (April 13) single game and a Saturday (April 14) doubleheader.

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