Falcons' Comeback Bid Falls Short at Wright State

Tuesday, May 1

Dayton, OH

11:00 AM ET

Bowling Green State University

25-24

Wright State

16-30

Bowling Green

Wright State

Photo by: BGSU Strategic Communications

May 01, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

BGSU falls, 6-4, in final non-conference contest of season

By: DAYTON, Ohio (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Wright State University scored six times in the first two innings on Tuesday (May 1), and the Raiders withstood a late comeback bid by the Bowling Green State University softball team. The hosts held on for a 6-4 win at the WSU Softball Field.

LINKS
BGSU-WSU STATISTICS: PDF

WSU took the lead with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning, before a second-inning grand slam made it a six-run game. The Falcons (25-24) scored twice in both the sixth and seventh frames before falling.

HIGHLIGHTS

Both teams had six hits and three errors in the game.
Junior Brooke Parker threw four innings of two-hit shutout relief for the Falcons.
Freshman Natalie Herder (pictured) had a hit in the first plate appearance of her collegiate career, with a pinch-hit single in the sixth inning.

QUOTING COACH WILLIS
"We came out a little flat to start the game against Wright State. It was not our sharpest day on the field with multiple physical and mental errors. It was nice to see the bats come alive later in the game, but unfortunately, we ran out of innings."

"I'm very happy for Natalie Herder. She's a kid who comes to the field and works hard every day, and it was great to see her take advantage of her opportunity and come through with a good at-bat and a base hit today."

BGSU-WSU – HOW IT HAPPENED

WSU put the leadoff runner on base in each of the first five innings, and in each of the first two frames, that runner eventually came around to score.
The Raiders took an early lead, without benefit of a hit, in the first inning. Two walks and two BG errors led to the two-run frame, as leadoff hitter Honnah Susor walked, stole second and came home when Macey Gunther reached on an infield error. After another walk and another BG miscue, a Madison Mills sacrifice fly plated another run.
Then, in the second inning, three singles loaded the bases, and Jordan Kennaw unloaded them with a one-out grand slam, giving the home team a 6-0 lead.
Meanwhile, BG's only hit through four innings against WSU starter Ally Russell came on a one-out double by freshman Sammy Dees in the top of the first. Junior Kali Holcomb reached on an error to put runners at the corners with two down, but a fly ball to right ended the threat.
That fly ball began a stretch of 10-straight batters retired by Russell. WSU reliever Maddux Hughes came on to start the fifth, and struck out the first batter she faced before sophomore Logan Everett drew a walk. But, Hughes got out of the inning as two ground balls each resulted in an out.
Junior Brooke Parker allowed a leadoff single in the fifth, then proceeded to strike out the side.
BG got on the board in the sixth, scoring two runs on four hits. Junior Alex Sorgi led off with a base hit, Dees was hit by a pitch and freshman Natalie Herder – in her first collegiate at-bat – came through with a pinch-hit single to load the bases
Then, a wild pitch scored Sorgi with the Falcons' first run, and walk to Holcomb reloaded the bases and prompted the Raiders to go to the bullpen.
Senior Laine Simmons greeted Kennaw, the new WSU hurler, with an RBI single, and after an out on the basepaths, junior Kellie Natham's hit loaded the bases once again. But, Kennaw escaped further damage on a popup to first and a fly ball to center.
Parker worked a quick 1-2-3 inning, and sophomore Taylor Blevins led off the seventh by reaching base on an infield error.
The Raiders made another pitching change, bringing in Ashley Sharp, the team's number-one pitcher. After Blevins stole second, Alex Sorgi reached on another infield miscue by the hosts.
Sharp got the first out of the inning, but senior Aspen Searle followed with a double to right, plating Blevins. Holcomb's fly ball to right resulted in Sorgi tagging and scoring, but also resulted in the second out. Then, Sharp got a game-ending grounder to second.

BGSU-WSU – STATS & LEADERS

As mentioned, both teams had six hits. Six different players had one hit apiece for each team.
Alex Sorgi scored two of BGSU's four runs in the day.
Dees and Searle each had a double on the day. Dees scored a run, while Searle had an RBI.
Holcomb had a walk and a sacrifice fly. Her RBI on the latter play increased her school-record total to 45 on the season.
Blevins stole a base and scored a run. She is second on the Falcons with seven steals this spring.
Simmons drove in a run. She now has 17 RBI on the year, including 10 in the last nine games.
Herder's hit, as mentioned, was the first of her BGSU career. Natham also had a base hit on the morning/afternoon.
Freshman Madison French suffered the loss in the circle, dropping to 1-1. She allowed four earned runs and four hits in two innings of work.
Brooke Parker pitched the final four innings, surrendering two hits and no runs. Parker walked one batter and struck out four.
Russell, the first of four WSU pitchers, picked up the win to improve to 5-9. She allowed only one hit.
The Falcons got five hits in the final three innings, as three Raider relievers got three outs apiece.

UP NEXT

BGSU returns home to face Mid-American Conference-leading Ohio University in a three-game series. The Falcons and Bobcats will meet in a Friday (May 4) single game, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Then, the teams will meet in a Saturday (May 5) doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and Saturday will be Senior Day at Meserve Field, with Alivia Forshey, Aspen Searle and Laine Simmons recognized in an on-field ceremony.

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