Leathernecks, Bulldogs Best BGSU on Saturday

Saturday, March 9

Athens, GA

10:30 AM

Bowling Green State University

4-9

Western Illinois

5-7

Western Illinois

Bowling Green

Taylor Blevins Sarah Willis v WMU - March 30 2018

March 09, 2019 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 BGSU-WIU Box Score BGSU-Georgia Box Score

Blevins, Alex Sorgi continue their hot hitting

By: ATHENS, Ga. (BGSU Athletic Communications)

The Bowling Green State University softball team dropped a pair of contests in Saturday action (March 9) at the UGA Classic. The Falcons fell, 8-0, to Western Illinois University before losing a 10-2 decision to the eighth-ranked University of Georgia at Jack Turner Stadium.

In the opener, WIU's Emily Ira struck out 13 and limited the Falcons to just three hits. The Leathernecks scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, then broke open a close game with back-to-back three-run frames in the fifth and sixth.

In the nightcap, the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, then added to that lead with a four-run third. BG got a run back in the fourth, and made it a 6-2 game on freshman Sidney Cook's first collegiate homer in the fifth. But, the Dawgs closed out the win with a four-run sixth.

Senior Alex Sorgi and junior Taylor Blevins combined for five of the Falcons' eight total hits on the day. Both players have had a hit in each of this weekend's four games so far.

BGSU-WIU – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Leathernecks got a pair of runs in the top of the first. Jasmine Lara and Payton Abbott drew back-to-back walks, but senior Meredith Miller got the next hitter to pop up to third base.
• WIU's cleanup hitter, Hailey Duwa, reached on an infield single to score Lara with the game's first run, and a BG error on a fielder's-choice grounder allowed Abbott to score unearned.
• After WIU starter Emily Ira set down the Falcons in order, the Leathernecks threatened again in the second, loading the bases with two outs. But, Miller threw a third strike past Sydney Hollings for out number three.
• BG got baserunners in the second and third innings. Junior Madi McCoy began the Falcon second with a single through the left side, and she advanced to second on a sac bunt by sophomore Sarah Gonzalez , but back-to-back strikeouts left her stranded there. Alex Sorgi singled with two down in the third, but another strikeout ended that frame as well.
• The Leathernecks added to the lead in the fifth. Hollings doubled, took third on a Duwa single and scored on an Ashley Minyard base hit. A Halle Hollatz sac fly plated another run, and Ira reached on a two-out error to allow another run to score, unearned.
• Freshman Marissa Mullen battled Ira through a nine-pitch at-bat, fouling off four pitches before drawing a walk, but the WIU hurler responded with three-straight swinging strikeouts.
• Then, the Leathernecks ended the contest in the sixth. A pair of walks, sandwiched around a single, loaded the bases, and a Hollings sac fly and a Duwa groundout each plated a run. Then, Minyard singled to give WIU an eight-run lead.

BGSU-WIU STATS & LEADERS
• Lara, Duwa and Minyard each had two hits. Lara was 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored, while both Duwa and Minyard went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Abbott was 0-for-1, but walked three times and scored twice.
• Alex Sorgi, McCoy and Blevins each had a hit for the Falcons.
• Ira picked up the win, allowing just three hits in her complete-game effort. She walked one batter and struck out 13.
• Miller suffered the loss, surrendering five runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 innings. She walked four hitters and struck out four.
• Freshman Madison French gave up three runs and two hits in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

BGSU-GEORGIA – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Bulldogs, who entered the weekend leading the nation in scoring, took the lead with a pair of second-inning runs against BG senior Brooke Parker.
• In the first, after a one-out walk, the Falcon defense turned an around-the-horn double play to end the inning.
• Lacey Fincher led off the second with a double, though, and a sac bunt moved her to third. Parker got Jordan Doggett to pop up for the second out, but Savana Sikes singled through the left side of the infield to score Fincher. Then, after a walk, CJ Landrum hit an infield single, and an error allowed Sikes to score the Dawgs' second run.
• The third inning saw Alyssa DiCarlo and Sikes homer to give Georgia a 6-0 lead. DiCarlo's round-tripper was a solo shot, and after Doggett's two-out sac fly, Sikes hit a two-run homer, with both runs unearned after an error earlier in the frame. Miller entered the game and got a strikeout to retire the side.
• Alex Sorgi led off the fourth inning with a single, for BG's first baserunner, and Blevins followed with an infield hit. Sophomore Payton Hamm's grounder resulted in Blevins being forced at second, but put runners at the corners for McCoy. The junior singled to left to plate Sorgi with the Falcons' first run.
• The following inning, Cook homered with two outs to make it a 6-2 game. Cook's blast was her first collegiate hit.
• Miller retired the Dawgs in the fifth, but Georgia broke the game open in the sixth. Ciara Bryan homered with one down, and four batters later, Mahlena O'Neal singled to score a run. Doggett followed with a two-run double that put the hosts up by eight.

BGSU-GEORGIA STATS & LEADERS
• Georgia had 10 hits to the Falcons' five. Doggett and Sikes each went 2-for-3 with three RBI for the hosts. Fincher was 1-for-1 with three walks and three runs scored.
• For the Falcons, Blevins was 2-for-3, while Alex Sorgi, McCoy and Cook each had hits as well.
• Kylie Bass picked up the complete-game win for the hosts, allowing two runs on five hits. She struck out nine and did not walk a batter.
• Parker suffered the loss, allowing six runs – just three earned – and five hits in 2 2/3 innings. Miller gave up four runs in three innings of relief.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons conclude action in the UGA Classic on Sunday (March 10) morning, facing Western Illinois in a game scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.
• Then, BGSU is scheduled to begin the home portion of the season with a Wednesday (March 13) doubleheader vs. Oakland University. First pitch of the first game is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Meserve Field, and admission is free.

FOLLOW THE FALCONS
For more information on all things BGSU softball, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGAthletics and @BGSUSoftball) and Instagram (@bgsu_softball) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.