Broncos Blank BG, 2-0, in Series Opener

Friday, April 19

Kalamazoo, MI

4:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

16-26, 4-11

Western Michigan

14-20, 6-6

Bowling Green

Western Michigan

Payton Hamm was 2-for-2 with a walk on Friday

Photo by: Larry Clapper

April 19, 2019 | Softball

Box Score BGSU-WMU Box Score

By: KALAMAZOO, Mich. (BGSU Athletic Communications)

Western Michigan University scratched a first-inning run across the plate, and Bronco starting pitcher Sydney Stefanick made that lead hold up, firing a shutout Friday afternoon (April 19). WMU posted a 2-0 victory over the Bowling Green State University softball team in Mid-American Conference action at Ebert Field.

Senior Meredith Miller allowed only one earned run and six hits for the Falcons (16-26, 4-11 MAC), walking two batters and striking out six. But, Stefanick gave up just three hits and two walks for the hosts en route to the complete-game shutout win.

Sophomore Payton Hamm paced the Falcons at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a walk. Stefanick allowed only two other BG baserunners, as junior Taylor Blevins reached on an infield hit and sophomore Nikki Sorgi drew a walk.

Mackenzie Swinehart was 2-for-3 with a run scored for the home team, while Logan Carter went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run batted in..

BGSU-WMU – HOW IT HAPPENED
• Sophomore Payton Hamm singled with two down in the first, but WMU starting pitcher Sydney Stefanick got a grounder back to the circle to end the inning.
• The Broncos took the lead in the bottom of the first. Mackenzie Swinehart led off with a single up the middle, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She would take third base on Jenna Faultersack's sacrifice bunt, and scored on a sac fly off the bat of Stefanick.
• Both teams drew a one-out walk in the second inning, as sophomore Nikki Sorgi reached for the Falcons and Logan Carter for the Broncos. But, both Stafanick and BG senior Meredith Miller retired the next two hitters. Miller got Skylar Sobeski to pop up to Sarah Gonzalez at short, then struck out Emma Nuyen to end the inning.
• In the BG third, junior Taylor Blevins reached on a two-out single, and promptly stole second base, and Hamm drew a walk, but a fly ball to left ended the half inning.
• Miller retired eight Broncos in a row before Carter led off the fifth with an infield single. The BG senior struck out Sobeski and got Nuyen to foul out to freshman Madeline Dyer at third. But, with two down, pinch-runner Maggie Kehoe stole second, and Swinehart's infield hit put runners at the corner.
• The bases were loaded after Faultersack was hit by a pitch, but Miller put Stefanick in an 0-2 hole before getting her WMU counterpart to fly out to right field, ending the inning.
• Meanwhile, Stefanick set down the Falcons in order in the fourth and fifth frames, but Hamm reached base for the third-straight plate appearance with a one-out single in the sixth. The WMU hurler, however, got a fly ball to center and a foul pop to the catcher to get out of the inning.
• WMU doubled the lead in the home half of the sixth. Kaylen Glenfield led off with a double to left center, and took third on Erin Barg's sac bunt.
• A Brooke Wyman infield hit put two runners aboard, as BG held Glenfield at third, but Carter followed with a single to left, plating Glenfield with an insurance run.
• Miller retired the next two hitters to end the inning, but Stefanick worked a one-two-three seventh inning to close out the win.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons and Broncos are scheduled to close their three-game weekend series on Saturday (April 20), with a doubleheader at Ebert Field. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 p.m.
• Then, the Brown and Orange will open a six-game homestand with a twinbill vs. Wright State on Tuesday (April 23), beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Meserve Field.

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.