Friday, February 19
Rock Hill, S.C.
1:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
4-1
2
at
0
Winthrop
3-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Bowling Green
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
9
0
Winthrop
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Greta L'Esperance was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate in Friday's opener
Photo by: Jeff Sochko/TimCowiePhotography.com
Gottshall, L’Esperance Key 2-0 Win over Winthrop
February 19, 2021 | Softball
Redshirt freshman CF has twice as many hits as her classmate allows; Eagles capture win in nightcap
ROCK HILL. S.C. – Payton Gottshall picked up right where she left off last weekend. The Bowling Green State University redshirt freshman fired a two-hit shutout as the softball Falcons topped Winthrop University, 2-0, in eight innings Friday afternoon (Feb. 19). The game was the opening contest in the Winthrop Kickoff Tournament at Terry Field.
In the second game of the day, the Eagles jumped on top early, scoring five times in the first two innings en route to a 10-1 victory.
Gottshall, who was named the Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday for her performance at Cleveland State last weekend, allowed only a one-out single in the fourth inning and a one-out double in the seventh. On both occasions, she promptly retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Greta L'Esperance was a perfect 4-for-4 in Friday's opening game, and scored what proved to be the winning run. Her fourth hit of the game was a single to lead off the eighth inning, and she immediately came around to score on a double by Madi McCoy.
McCoy then scored on a pinch-hit single by Reagan Williamson – the first hit and first run batted in of Williamson's young career – and the Falcons had one more run than Gottshall would need.
Gottshall allowed a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth, but struck out the other three batters she faced in the inning to close out the win.
Gottshall now has three complete-game shutouts in as many starts this season. She has topped her shutout total (two) for all of last year.
NOTE OF THE DAY
• Payton Gottshall, as mentioned, has three complete-game shutouts in as many starts this season, after recording two shutouts last year.
• As a true freshman in 2020, Gottshall had a double-digit strikeout total in four games. This season, she has had at least 15 strikeouts in each of her four appearances – including one relief appearance.
• Gottshall has pitched 29 1/3 innings this season to date. She has walked three batters and struck out 67.
• And, most importantly, Gottshall and the Falcons have picked up a win in each of her four appearances of 2021 to date.
GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• Both Payton Gottshall and Winthrop starting pitcher Madyson Watson each fired goose eggs until the eighth inning, although BGSU put at least one runner on base in seven of the game's eight frames.
• Greta L'Esperance reached on an infield single – the first of her four hits in the game – in the first, while Sarah Gonzalez worked a two-out walk in the second, but Watson got an inning-ending strikeout in each case.
• Gottshall walked Macy McCall to lead off the bottom of the first, but McCall was caught stealing by the combination of Gottshall, catcher Evelyn Loyola and shortstop Madi McCoy. Another walk put an Eagle runner aboard, before Gottshall got a strikeout and a grounder back to the circle.
• Beginning with that second-inning strikeout, Gottshall retired nine of the next 10 hitters, whiffing seven. She allowed her first hit of the day, a single to Ansley Gilreath, with one down in the fourth, before striking out two more Eagles to end the frame.
• Meanwhile, L'Esperance doubled in the third, and Payton Hamm and Gonzalez had back-to-back singles in the fourth, but BG could not break the scoreless deadlock.
• The only hit for either team over the next two innings came off the bat of – who else? – L'Esperance, as she singled down the left-field line with two outs in the Falcon fifth. After that, neither team had another baserunner until Logan Everett's one-out single in the seventh, but Watson got a fielder's-choice grounder, then a popup to short.
• The Eagles threatened in the home half of the seventh, as Taylor Charlton doubled with one out. Believe it or not, it marked the first time in Gottshall's three 2021 starts (roughly 28 innings to that point) that she had allowed a runner in scoring position. But, the Falcon hurler got Ashley Westbrooks to hit a popup to McCoy at short, then induced Kaitlyn Tucker to lift a ball down the left-field line that was caught by Marlie McNulty in foul ground.
• The Falcons finally broke through in the eighth. L'Esperance led off with a single, and McCoy followed with an RBI double to left-center. McCoy took third on the play, and she scored on true freshman Reagan Williamson's single up the middle. Watson worked around an error to retire the side without further damage, but the Orange and Brown had a two-run lead.
• And, that lead was more than enough for Gottshall. She struck out a pair of pinch-hitters in Ellie Marks and Isabella Clark, and after walking McCall, she got Lauren King to swing and miss for a game-ending strikeout.
• Gottshall, as mentioned, allowed just two hits in her complete-game shutout win. She walked three hitters and struck out 16.
• L'Esperance led the way at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and scoring what proved to be the game-winning run.
• McCoy and Williamson had run-scoring hits, and Gonzalez reached base twice on a single and a walk.
GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons scored an early run, but it would prove to be the only run WU starter Aisha Weixlmann would surrender. L'Esperance singled with one out –her fifth-straight hit on the day – before stealing second. She went to third on McCoy's single and scored on a Nikki Sorgi grounder.
• But, the Eagles countered with three runs in the bottom of the first, with the big blow being a two-out, two-run single by Tucker off of BG starter Harlie Vannatter.
• Winthrop scored twice against Madison French in the second inning, and after she retired eight of nine batters, a Gilreath single in the fourth was followed by Watson's two-run homer. The Eagles closed out the win with a three-run fifth.
• Gilreath and Tucker each were 2-for-3 at the plate to lead WU's seven-hit attack. The Falcons got hits from L'Esperance, McCoy, Gonzalez and Sophie Weber.
NOTEWORTHY
• Payton Gottshall's performance in Friday's first contest marked her 12th complete game in 14 collegiate starts. She now has four shutouts.
• Gottshall has struck out 195 batters in 116.1 career innings. It's early in her career, but that's an average of 11.73 strikeouts per seven innings. The school record is 7.12, by BGSU Hall-of-Famer Liz Vrabel (2003-06).
• Greta L'Esperance had the first four-hit game of her career in Friday's opener. Her previous single-game high was two hits, on five occasions (including in two of last weekend's four games at Cleveland State).
• L'Esperance had a hit in Friday's second game to give her a total of five on the day and 11 on the season. She has topped her total (10) for all of last year.
• Reagan Williamson had her first hit and her first RBI as a Falcon with one swing in the opener. Williamson had a pinch-hit, run-scoring single in the eighth inning of game one vs. the Eagles.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons will play two more games in the Winthrop Kickoff Tournament on Saturday (Feb, 20). BGSU is scheduled to meet Stony Brook in a 12:00 p.m. start, followed by Furman at 2:30 p.m.
• The Falcons' fifth and final game in the tournament is set for Sunday morning (Feb. 21) at 10:00 a.m. vs. Radford.
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.
HASHTAG
#AyZiggy
In the second game of the day, the Eagles jumped on top early, scoring five times in the first two innings en route to a 10-1 victory.
Gottshall, who was named the Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday for her performance at Cleveland State last weekend, allowed only a one-out single in the fourth inning and a one-out double in the seventh. On both occasions, she promptly retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Greta L'Esperance was a perfect 4-for-4 in Friday's opening game, and scored what proved to be the winning run. Her fourth hit of the game was a single to lead off the eighth inning, and she immediately came around to score on a double by Madi McCoy.
McCoy then scored on a pinch-hit single by Reagan Williamson – the first hit and first run batted in of Williamson's young career – and the Falcons had one more run than Gottshall would need.
Gottshall allowed a one-out walk in the bottom of the eighth, but struck out the other three batters she faced in the inning to close out the win.
Gottshall now has three complete-game shutouts in as many starts this season. She has topped her shutout total (two) for all of last year.
NOTE OF THE DAY
• Payton Gottshall, as mentioned, has three complete-game shutouts in as many starts this season, after recording two shutouts last year.
• As a true freshman in 2020, Gottshall had a double-digit strikeout total in four games. This season, she has had at least 15 strikeouts in each of her four appearances – including one relief appearance.
• Gottshall has pitched 29 1/3 innings this season to date. She has walked three batters and struck out 67.
• And, most importantly, Gottshall and the Falcons have picked up a win in each of her four appearances of 2021 to date.
GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• Both Payton Gottshall and Winthrop starting pitcher Madyson Watson each fired goose eggs until the eighth inning, although BGSU put at least one runner on base in seven of the game's eight frames.
• Greta L'Esperance reached on an infield single – the first of her four hits in the game – in the first, while Sarah Gonzalez worked a two-out walk in the second, but Watson got an inning-ending strikeout in each case.
• Gottshall walked Macy McCall to lead off the bottom of the first, but McCall was caught stealing by the combination of Gottshall, catcher Evelyn Loyola and shortstop Madi McCoy. Another walk put an Eagle runner aboard, before Gottshall got a strikeout and a grounder back to the circle.
• Beginning with that second-inning strikeout, Gottshall retired nine of the next 10 hitters, whiffing seven. She allowed her first hit of the day, a single to Ansley Gilreath, with one down in the fourth, before striking out two more Eagles to end the frame.
• Meanwhile, L'Esperance doubled in the third, and Payton Hamm and Gonzalez had back-to-back singles in the fourth, but BG could not break the scoreless deadlock.
• The only hit for either team over the next two innings came off the bat of – who else? – L'Esperance, as she singled down the left-field line with two outs in the Falcon fifth. After that, neither team had another baserunner until Logan Everett's one-out single in the seventh, but Watson got a fielder's-choice grounder, then a popup to short.
• The Eagles threatened in the home half of the seventh, as Taylor Charlton doubled with one out. Believe it or not, it marked the first time in Gottshall's three 2021 starts (roughly 28 innings to that point) that she had allowed a runner in scoring position. But, the Falcon hurler got Ashley Westbrooks to hit a popup to McCoy at short, then induced Kaitlyn Tucker to lift a ball down the left-field line that was caught by Marlie McNulty in foul ground.
• The Falcons finally broke through in the eighth. L'Esperance led off with a single, and McCoy followed with an RBI double to left-center. McCoy took third on the play, and she scored on true freshman Reagan Williamson's single up the middle. Watson worked around an error to retire the side without further damage, but the Orange and Brown had a two-run lead.
• And, that lead was more than enough for Gottshall. She struck out a pair of pinch-hitters in Ellie Marks and Isabella Clark, and after walking McCall, she got Lauren King to swing and miss for a game-ending strikeout.
• Gottshall, as mentioned, allowed just two hits in her complete-game shutout win. She walked three hitters and struck out 16.
• L'Esperance led the way at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and scoring what proved to be the game-winning run.
• McCoy and Williamson had run-scoring hits, and Gonzalez reached base twice on a single and a walk.
GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons scored an early run, but it would prove to be the only run WU starter Aisha Weixlmann would surrender. L'Esperance singled with one out –her fifth-straight hit on the day – before stealing second. She went to third on McCoy's single and scored on a Nikki Sorgi grounder.
• But, the Eagles countered with three runs in the bottom of the first, with the big blow being a two-out, two-run single by Tucker off of BG starter Harlie Vannatter.
• Winthrop scored twice against Madison French in the second inning, and after she retired eight of nine batters, a Gilreath single in the fourth was followed by Watson's two-run homer. The Eagles closed out the win with a three-run fifth.
• Gilreath and Tucker each were 2-for-3 at the plate to lead WU's seven-hit attack. The Falcons got hits from L'Esperance, McCoy, Gonzalez and Sophie Weber.
NOTEWORTHY
• Payton Gottshall's performance in Friday's first contest marked her 12th complete game in 14 collegiate starts. She now has four shutouts.
• Gottshall has struck out 195 batters in 116.1 career innings. It's early in her career, but that's an average of 11.73 strikeouts per seven innings. The school record is 7.12, by BGSU Hall-of-Famer Liz Vrabel (2003-06).
• Greta L'Esperance had the first four-hit game of her career in Friday's opener. Her previous single-game high was two hits, on five occasions (including in two of last weekend's four games at Cleveland State).
• L'Esperance had a hit in Friday's second game to give her a total of five on the day and 11 on the season. She has topped her total (10) for all of last year.
• Reagan Williamson had her first hit and her first RBI as a Falcon with one swing in the opener. Williamson had a pinch-hit, run-scoring single in the eighth inning of game one vs. the Eagles.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons will play two more games in the Winthrop Kickoff Tournament on Saturday (Feb, 20). BGSU is scheduled to meet Stony Brook in a 12:00 p.m. start, followed by Furman at 2:30 p.m.
• The Falcons' fifth and final game in the tournament is set for Sunday morning (Feb. 21) at 10:00 a.m. vs. Radford.
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.
HASHTAG
#AyZiggy
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gottshall, Payton (4-0)
L: WATSON, M. (1-3)
Batting:
2B: L'Esperance, Greta 1 ; McCoy, Madi 1
RBI: McCoy, Madi 1 ; Williamson, Reagan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: L'Esperance, Greta 1 ; McCoy, Madi 1
SB: Sorgi, Nikki 1
Batting:
2B: CHARLTON, T. 1
Base Running:
SB: VANHOUSE, A. 1
CS: MCCALL, M. 1
HBP: BAKER, C. 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
4
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballC/IF
/ SoftballSB: First Pitch Dinner Recap (Jan. 11, 2024)
Wednesday, January 24
BGSU-CMU Softball Highlights (May 13, 2022)
Saturday, May 14
BGSU In The Nest : Nikki and Alex Sorgi (Softball)
Wednesday, May 08
BG Softball Beats Akron in Game 1 on Senior Day 4.27
Saturday, April 27