Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Chris Kohley/WKU Athletics
Falcon Feature: Gottshall Gets it Done for BGSU Softball
March 18, 2021 | Softball
Pitcher Payton Gottshall didn't know what inning it was heading into the final frame of BGSU softball's game at Cleveland State on Feb. 13. The Falcons had retired all 18 batters in the six innings of play, and Gottshall was in the circle for every out.
In the bottom of the seventh, first baseman Nikki Sorgi fielded a bunt and retired Cleveland State's first hitter. Gottshall struck out the final two batters, picked up her rosin bag in the back of the circle and calmly walked off the field.
"Coach Willis walked up to me and handed me the game ball and literally didn't say anything," Gottshall said. "Everyone was like, 'You just had a perfect game' and I was like, 'Oh wow!'"
Yes, Gottshall had done it. She had thrown a perfect game, the second in school history.
Catcher Evelyn Loyola, a redshirt senior, was behind the plate for the perfect game.
"I think it's a great accomplishment for her and something that really helps the team," Loyola said. "I knew she was capable of it."
Gottshall finished the game with 16 strikeouts. That wasn't even the redshirt freshman's highest tally of the season.
In the Feb. 12 season opener against Cleveland State, Gottshall struck out a school-record 20 batters, allowing just one hit.
Head Coach Sarah Willis said no one could have anticipated the start Gottshall had to this season.
"I've never seen a weekend like that from a pitcher in the years that I played, let alone coached, with baseball or softball," Willis said.
Gottshall was a four-time letter winner in softball and tennis at Perry High School. The Massillon, Ohio, native led the softball team to three Federal League championships, capturing a state title in 2018.
Willis discovered Gottshall while watching other recruits in a tournament. Gottshall was committed to UT Martin at the time but decommitted at the end of her senior year. When Willis found out Gottshall was available, she got in contact with her travel ball coach, and the rest is history.
Gottshall arrived on campus in 2019 looking to become a starter. The Falcons graduated two starting pitchers that spring, giving Gottshall the opportunity to establish herself in the rotation.
Gottshall said it took some time to prove herself. She only knew infielder Sophie Weber, when she arrived at BGSU. The two played on the same travel team.
"I think just practicing and showing my work ethic kind of helped me prove myself to the team," Gottshall said. "Once we got into season, after we started playing, they were like, 'Okay, she can pitch.'"
Willis emphasized Gottshall's strong performance in describing how she was able to fit into the rotation.
"She's always been one of our top workers," Willis said. "When you compete and you perform, the outcomes speak for themselves."
During the 2020 season, Gottshall threw a one-hit gem in her college debut, striking out 17 against Tennessee Tech in the season opener. She appeared in all but one game, going 11-5 with 128 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.93.
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The COVID-19 pandemic ended the Falcons' 2020 season early. That didn't stop Gottshall from continuing to improve. Willis created accountability groups for the team where each player sent daily documentation of skill work, weight training, or academic work. Gottshall also found opportunities to compete over the summer.
"When the country started opening back up again, you bet she was out there throwing and she was trying to find batters to throw to because she wanted that competition again," Willis said. "Someone who's as motivated and passionate about the game as Payton is, she's always looking to find those opportunities."
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Gottshall brings an intensity into the circle that Willis said she has yet to see consistently from any Division I athlete she's coached.
"She does not get intimidated," Willis said. "She doesn't really care how good the hitter is or what their stats are. She sees a hitter that we can get out."
Gottshall looks forward to representing Bowling Green at home on March 19. The Falcons will return to Meserve Field against Central Michigan for their first regular season home game since April 30, 2019.
"We want to make that special and come out with some wins," Gottshall said.
The ultimate goal for the team this season is to win the MAC, which Loyola and Gottshall both believe they can accomplish.
"That's our biggest goal is just go out there and compete every day and leave everything out on the field," Loyola said.
"We have a good group," Gottshall said. "We just got to keep pushing and keep working and really just not get complacent and settle for where we're at now."
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In the bottom of the seventh, first baseman Nikki Sorgi fielded a bunt and retired Cleveland State's first hitter. Gottshall struck out the final two batters, picked up her rosin bag in the back of the circle and calmly walked off the field.
"Coach Willis walked up to me and handed me the game ball and literally didn't say anything," Gottshall said. "Everyone was like, 'You just had a perfect game' and I was like, 'Oh wow!'"
Yes, Gottshall had done it. She had thrown a perfect game, the second in school history.
Catcher Evelyn Loyola, a redshirt senior, was behind the plate for the perfect game.
"I think it's a great accomplishment for her and something that really helps the team," Loyola said. "I knew she was capable of it."
Gottshall finished the game with 16 strikeouts. That wasn't even the redshirt freshman's highest tally of the season.
In the Feb. 12 season opener against Cleveland State, Gottshall struck out a school-record 20 batters, allowing just one hit.
Head Coach Sarah Willis said no one could have anticipated the start Gottshall had to this season.
"I've never seen a weekend like that from a pitcher in the years that I played, let alone coached, with baseball or softball," Willis said.
Gottshall was a four-time letter winner in softball and tennis at Perry High School. The Massillon, Ohio, native led the softball team to three Federal League championships, capturing a state title in 2018.
Willis discovered Gottshall while watching other recruits in a tournament. Gottshall was committed to UT Martin at the time but decommitted at the end of her senior year. When Willis found out Gottshall was available, she got in contact with her travel ball coach, and the rest is history.
Gottshall arrived on campus in 2019 looking to become a starter. The Falcons graduated two starting pitchers that spring, giving Gottshall the opportunity to establish herself in the rotation.
Gottshall said it took some time to prove herself. She only knew infielder Sophie Weber, when she arrived at BGSU. The two played on the same travel team.
"I think just practicing and showing my work ethic kind of helped me prove myself to the team," Gottshall said. "Once we got into season, after we started playing, they were like, 'Okay, she can pitch.'"
Willis emphasized Gottshall's strong performance in describing how she was able to fit into the rotation.
"She's always been one of our top workers," Willis said. "When you compete and you perform, the outcomes speak for themselves."
During the 2020 season, Gottshall threw a one-hit gem in her college debut, striking out 17 against Tennessee Tech in the season opener. She appeared in all but one game, going 11-5 with 128 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.93.
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| 2020 Season Highlights |
| Appeared in 16 of 17 games (11 starts), going 11-5 as the pitcher of record Held opponents to .182 batting average Struck out 128 batters in 87 innings Recorded four games with double-digit strikeouts Recognized as MAC Pitcher of the Week twice |
The COVID-19 pandemic ended the Falcons' 2020 season early. That didn't stop Gottshall from continuing to improve. Willis created accountability groups for the team where each player sent daily documentation of skill work, weight training, or academic work. Gottshall also found opportunities to compete over the summer.
"When the country started opening back up again, you bet she was out there throwing and she was trying to find batters to throw to because she wanted that competition again," Willis said. "Someone who's as motivated and passionate about the game as Payton is, she's always looking to find those opportunities."
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| 2021 Season Highlights |
| Pitched in 10 of BGSU's first 14 games (8 starts), going 7-3 through March 6 Struck out a school-record 20 batters in the season opener at Cleveland State on Feb. 12 Tied for third on the NCAA Division I list for strikeouts in a seven-inning game Threw a perfect game at Cleveland State on Feb. 13, the second in school history Recognized as Wilson/NFCA National Pitcher of the Week and MAC Pitcher of the Week following the opening series National leader in strikeouts with 141 as of March 8 Tied for first nationally in shutouts with four as of March 8 |
Gottshall brings an intensity into the circle that Willis said she has yet to see consistently from any Division I athlete she's coached.
"She does not get intimidated," Willis said. "She doesn't really care how good the hitter is or what their stats are. She sees a hitter that we can get out."
Gottshall looks forward to representing Bowling Green at home on March 19. The Falcons will return to Meserve Field against Central Michigan for their first regular season home game since April 30, 2019.
"We want to make that special and come out with some wins," Gottshall said.
The ultimate goal for the team this season is to win the MAC, which Loyola and Gottshall both believe they can accomplish.
"That's our biggest goal is just go out there and compete every day and leave everything out on the field," Loyola said.
"We have a good group," Gottshall said. "We just got to keep pushing and keep working and really just not get complacent and settle for where we're at now."
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