Saturday, February 20
Rock Hill, S.C.
12:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
4-3
0
vs
2
Stony Brook
1-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Stony Brook
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
4
0
Bowling Green
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
Falcons Drop a Pair on Saturday
February 20, 2021 | Softball
L'Esperance extends hit streak, Gottshall posts another double-digit K total
ROCK HILL. S.C. – Stony Brook University pushed a pair of runs across the plate in the seventh inning Saturday afternoon (Feb. 20), and the Seawolves went on to defeat the Bowling Green State University softball team by a 2-0 final. The game was part of second-day action at the Winthrop Kickoff Tournament at Terry Field.
In the Falcons' second game of the afternoon, Furman University opened up an early lead as the Paladins picked up a 10-3 win.
BGSU's Payton Gottshall and SBU starter Dawn Bodrug hooked up in a pitchers' duel in the opener. Both hurlers struck out 13 in the game, and both Gottshall and Bodrug put goose eggs on the scoreboard until the Seawolves – picked to win the America East Conference in 2021 – finally broke through in the seventh.
In the nightcap, both teams had eight hits, but the Paladins scored seven times over the first three innings to take a lead that proved insurmountable.
For the Falcons, Greta L'Esperance had a hit in each game, while both Madi McCoy and Logan Everett had two hits vs. Furman.
NOTEWORTHY
• Redshirt freshman Greta L'Esperance, as mentioned above, had a hit in each game on Saturday. L'Esperance has hit safely in all eight games this season to date, and has a 10-game hitting streak dating to last season.
• L'Esperance is hitting a team-best .419 this season. With 13 hits through eight games, she has topped her total (10) for all of last year.
• As a true freshman in 2020, Payton Gottshall had a double-digit strikeout total in four games. This season, she has had at least 13 strikeouts in each of her five trips to the circle – including one relief appearance.
• Gottshall has pitched 36 1/3 innings this season to date. She has walked four batters and struck out 80, and opponents have batted just .093 against her in 2021.
BGSU-STONY BROOK – HOW IT HAPPENED
• BGSU starter Payton Gottshall allowed only four hits in her complete-game effort. The Seawolves did, however, get a runner as far as second base twice in the first four innings on Saturday.
• In the second inning, after a one-out infield error, Jordyn Nowakowski singled to put two runners aboard, but Gottshall got a popup to Madi McCoy at shortstop, followed by a grounder to second.
• Melissa Rahrich led off the SBU half of the fourth with a single, and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. But, Gottshall struck out each of the next two hitters to retire the side. The BG redshirt freshman then faced the minimum three batters in both the fifth and sixth frames.
• Meanwhile, though, the Seawolves' Dawn Bodrug was cruising, as she no-hit the Falcons through five innings. The only baserunners she allowed in that time came with one out in both the fourth (a walk to Sammy Dees) and fifth (when she hit Nikki Sorgi with a pitch) frames. Bodrug responded to the Dees walk with a pair of strikeouts in the fourth, then got a grounder to force Sorgi in the fifth, followed by another strikeout. But, BGSU would threaten in the bottom of the sixth.
• Redshirt freshman Sophie Weber's leadoff double down the line ended Bodrug's no-hit bid, and an infield hit by Greta L'Esperance moved pinch-runner Marlie McNulty to third. L'Esperance stole second, and another Sammy Dees walk loaded the bases. But, Bodrug escaped the jam by striking out the next three Falcons to keep the game scoreless.
• In the top of the seventh, Riley Craig drew a leadoff walk, and pinch-runner Alicia Orosco stole second. Gottshall struck out the next batter, hit Nowakowski with a pitch, then got another strikeout for the second out of the inning. But, Brooke Dye's double down the left-field line scored both runners, and when Bodrug retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning, the Seawolves had the win.
• Six different players had one hit apiece in the game, with L'Esperance and Weber accounting for BG's two hits. Sammy Dees reached base twice on a pair of walks.
• Gottshall suffered her first loss in five decisions this season, despite allowing just four hits in her complete-game effort. She walked one batter and struck out 13.
• Bodrug also had 13 strikeouts, walking two and allowing only two hits.
BGSU-FURMAN – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Paladins scored seven runs over the first three innings to take control of BGSU's second game on Saturday. Furman scored a pair of first-inning runs, on a Riley Ludlam triple and an Emily Bartlett double.
• In the second, two singles, a fielder's choice, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly enabled the Paladins to score two more times to double the lead against BG starter Madison French.
• Hannah Davies entered the circle to begin the third inning, and nearly got out of that frame unscathed despite a pair of walks and a BG error. But, with the bases loaded and two down, an Ashlee Lykins single and another Falcon error allowed three unearned runs to score. Davies then worked a perfect one-two-three inning in the fourth.
• Furman starter Bailey Tanner allowed back-to-back hits by Sammy Dees and McCoy in the first inning, but worked out of the jam, retiring the final two batters of the frame. Beginning with those two hitters, Tanner would set down eight consecutive Falcons.
• Sierra Tufts came on in relief of Tanner in the fourth, and allowed a one-out single off the bat of Sorgi. Makailah Dees followed with a pinch-hit single, and a walk to Reagan Williamson loaded the bases. Then, Logan Everett singled through the left side of the infield to score both Sorgi and Makailah Dees.
• But, the Paladins responded with three runs in the fifth. Claire Ginder led off with a homer, and Furman also got runs via a Marina Griffin single and a Lykins sac fly. Redshirt freshman Sydney Stepp got the final out of the fifth, then pitched a pair of scoreless innings for the Falcons. She allowed just one hit, walking one while striking out two.
• BG scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, when L'Esperance beat out a bunt single and stole second. She took third when Sammy Dees reached on an error, and scored on a McCoy single.
• The Falcons, however, could draw no closer, as Tanner returned to the circle to get the game's final four outs for her team. Tanner allowed no runs and two hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out two without walking a batter.
• Tufts surrendered three runs and six hits, walking two and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
• Both teams had eight hits, with eight different Paladins picking up one hit apiece. Lykins drove in three runs and Ludlam two, while Mariah Bohl scored three runs.
• For the Falcons, Everett was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while McCoy went 2-for-4.
A FEW MORE FALCON NOTES
• In the Stony Brook game, true freshman Reagan Williamson made the first start of her young collegiate career, while redshirt frosh Sophie Weber made her first start of 2021. Both players started the Furman contest as well.
• Makailah Dees had the first hit of her collegiate career with a single in the Furman game.
• Redshirt freshman Sydney Stepp made her 2021 debut vs. Furman, pitching scoreless relief over the 2 1/3 innings. She allowed just one hit, walking one and striking out a pair.
• Another redshirt freshman, Payton Gottshall, has 80 strikeouts and just four walks in 36 1/3 innings this season. She allowed her first two earned runs of the spring on Saturday, and her ERA is now 0.39.
• In her BGSU career, Gottshall has struck out 208 batters in 123.1 innings. She already ranks 13th in school history in career strikeouts.
• The school record for strikeouts per seven innings (minimum 200 innings pitched) is 7.12, by BGSU Hall-of-Famer Liz Vrabel (2003-06). In her career to date, Gottshall has struck out 11.81 batters per seven innings.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons wrap up weekend action at the Winthrop Kickoff Tournament with one final game on Sunday morning (Feb. 21). BGSU is scheduled to face Radford, with first pitch at 10:00 a.m.
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 Falcons' second game of the afternoon, Furman University opened up an early lead as the Paladins picked up a 10-3 win.
BGSU's Payton Gottshall and SBU starter Dawn Bodrug hooked up in a pitchers' duel in the opener. Both hurlers struck out 13 in the game, and both Gottshall and Bodrug put goose eggs on the scoreboard until the Seawolves – picked to win the America East Conference in 2021 – finally broke through in the seventh.
In the nightcap, both teams had eight hits, but the Paladins scored seven times over the first three innings to take a lead that proved insurmountable.
For the Falcons, Greta L'Esperance had a hit in each game, while both Madi McCoy and Logan Everett had two hits vs. Furman.
NOTEWORTHY
• Redshirt freshman Greta L'Esperance, as mentioned above, had a hit in each game on Saturday. L'Esperance has hit safely in all eight games this season to date, and has a 10-game hitting streak dating to last season.
• L'Esperance is hitting a team-best .419 this season. With 13 hits through eight games, she has topped her total (10) for all of last year.
• As a true freshman in 2020, Payton Gottshall had a double-digit strikeout total in four games. This season, she has had at least 13 strikeouts in each of her five trips to the circle – including one relief appearance.
• Gottshall has pitched 36 1/3 innings this season to date. She has walked four batters and struck out 80, and opponents have batted just .093 against her in 2021.
BGSU-STONY BROOK – HOW IT HAPPENED
• BGSU starter Payton Gottshall allowed only four hits in her complete-game effort. The Seawolves did, however, get a runner as far as second base twice in the first four innings on Saturday.
• In the second inning, after a one-out infield error, Jordyn Nowakowski singled to put two runners aboard, but Gottshall got a popup to Madi McCoy at shortstop, followed by a grounder to second.
• Melissa Rahrich led off the SBU half of the fourth with a single, and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt. But, Gottshall struck out each of the next two hitters to retire the side. The BG redshirt freshman then faced the minimum three batters in both the fifth and sixth frames.
• Meanwhile, though, the Seawolves' Dawn Bodrug was cruising, as she no-hit the Falcons through five innings. The only baserunners she allowed in that time came with one out in both the fourth (a walk to Sammy Dees) and fifth (when she hit Nikki Sorgi with a pitch) frames. Bodrug responded to the Dees walk with a pair of strikeouts in the fourth, then got a grounder to force Sorgi in the fifth, followed by another strikeout. But, BGSU would threaten in the bottom of the sixth.
• Redshirt freshman Sophie Weber's leadoff double down the line ended Bodrug's no-hit bid, and an infield hit by Greta L'Esperance moved pinch-runner Marlie McNulty to third. L'Esperance stole second, and another Sammy Dees walk loaded the bases. But, Bodrug escaped the jam by striking out the next three Falcons to keep the game scoreless.
• In the top of the seventh, Riley Craig drew a leadoff walk, and pinch-runner Alicia Orosco stole second. Gottshall struck out the next batter, hit Nowakowski with a pitch, then got another strikeout for the second out of the inning. But, Brooke Dye's double down the left-field line scored both runners, and when Bodrug retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning, the Seawolves had the win.
• Six different players had one hit apiece in the game, with L'Esperance and Weber accounting for BG's two hits. Sammy Dees reached base twice on a pair of walks.
• Gottshall suffered her first loss in five decisions this season, despite allowing just four hits in her complete-game effort. She walked one batter and struck out 13.
• Bodrug also had 13 strikeouts, walking two and allowing only two hits.
BGSU-FURMAN – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Paladins scored seven runs over the first three innings to take control of BGSU's second game on Saturday. Furman scored a pair of first-inning runs, on a Riley Ludlam triple and an Emily Bartlett double.
• In the second, two singles, a fielder's choice, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly enabled the Paladins to score two more times to double the lead against BG starter Madison French.
• Hannah Davies entered the circle to begin the third inning, and nearly got out of that frame unscathed despite a pair of walks and a BG error. But, with the bases loaded and two down, an Ashlee Lykins single and another Falcon error allowed three unearned runs to score. Davies then worked a perfect one-two-three inning in the fourth.
• Furman starter Bailey Tanner allowed back-to-back hits by Sammy Dees and McCoy in the first inning, but worked out of the jam, retiring the final two batters of the frame. Beginning with those two hitters, Tanner would set down eight consecutive Falcons.
• Sierra Tufts came on in relief of Tanner in the fourth, and allowed a one-out single off the bat of Sorgi. Makailah Dees followed with a pinch-hit single, and a walk to Reagan Williamson loaded the bases. Then, Logan Everett singled through the left side of the infield to score both Sorgi and Makailah Dees.
• But, the Paladins responded with three runs in the fifth. Claire Ginder led off with a homer, and Furman also got runs via a Marina Griffin single and a Lykins sac fly. Redshirt freshman Sydney Stepp got the final out of the fifth, then pitched a pair of scoreless innings for the Falcons. She allowed just one hit, walking one while striking out two.
• BG scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, when L'Esperance beat out a bunt single and stole second. She took third when Sammy Dees reached on an error, and scored on a McCoy single.
• The Falcons, however, could draw no closer, as Tanner returned to the circle to get the game's final four outs for her team. Tanner allowed no runs and two hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out two without walking a batter.
• Tufts surrendered three runs and six hits, walking two and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
• Both teams had eight hits, with eight different Paladins picking up one hit apiece. Lykins drove in three runs and Ludlam two, while Mariah Bohl scored three runs.
• For the Falcons, Everett was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while McCoy went 2-for-4.
A FEW MORE FALCON NOTES
• In the Stony Brook game, true freshman Reagan Williamson made the first start of her young collegiate career, while redshirt frosh Sophie Weber made her first start of 2021. Both players started the Furman contest as well.
• Makailah Dees had the first hit of her collegiate career with a single in the Furman game.
• Redshirt freshman Sydney Stepp made her 2021 debut vs. Furman, pitching scoreless relief over the 2 1/3 innings. She allowed just one hit, walking one and striking out a pair.
• Another redshirt freshman, Payton Gottshall, has 80 strikeouts and just four walks in 36 1/3 innings this season. She allowed her first two earned runs of the spring on Saturday, and her ERA is now 0.39.
• In her BGSU career, Gottshall has struck out 208 batters in 123.1 innings. She already ranks 13th in school history in career strikeouts.
• The school record for strikeouts per seven innings (minimum 200 innings pitched) is 7.12, by BGSU Hall-of-Famer Liz Vrabel (2003-06). In her career to date, Gottshall has struck out 11.81 batters per seven innings.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons wrap up weekend action at the Winthrop Kickoff Tournament with one final game on Sunday morning (Feb. 21). BGSU is scheduled to face Radford, with first pitch at 10:00 a.m.
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: Tanner (1-1)
L: French, Madison (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Bartlett 1
3B: Ludlam 1
HR: Ginder 1
RBI: Lykins 3 ; Ludlam 2 ; Bartlett 1 ; Ginder 1 ; Griffin 1 ; Fleming 1
SF: Lykins 1 ; Ludlam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morgan 1 ; Ludlam 1 ; Bartlett 1 ; Ginder 1 ; Bohl 3 ; Crawford 1 ; Griffin 2
SB: Bohl 1 ; Griffin 1
CS: C. Fleming 1
HBP: Morgan 2 ; Bartlett 1
Batting:
RBI: McCoy, Madi 1 ; Everett, Logan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: L'Esperance, Greta 1 ; Sorgi, Nikki 1 ; Dees, Makailah 1
SB: L'Esperance, Greta 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF/OF
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C/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