Saturday, March 20
Bowling Green, Ohio
1:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
9-8, 1-1
5
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9
Central Michigan
3-8, 1-1
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5
6
7
R
H
E
Central Michigan
2
0
3
1
0
1
2
9
12
1
Bowling Green
4
0
0
0
1
0
0
5
10
1
Gottshall, Gonzalez Guide Falcons Past CMU, 1-0
March 20, 2021 | Softball
BGSU has won 2 of the first 3 games of home- and MAC-opening weekend series
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Payton Gottshall fired a two-hit shutout, and Sarah Gonzalez homered to lead the Bowling Green State University softball team to a 1-0 win over Central Michigan University Saturday afternoon (March 20) at Meserve Field.
The win gave the Falcons (10-8, 2-1 MAC) a split of the day's doubleheader with the Chippewas (3-9, 1-2 MAC), who picked up a 9-5 win in game one.
Madi McCoy and Greta L'Esperance each went 3-for-4 in the opener, with McCoy driving in three runs and L'Esperance scoring twice. Sophie Weber had a two-run homer in that game as well. But, CMU's Morgan Gardner was 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI.
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NOTEWORTHY
• Payton Gottshall's complete-game shutout on Saturday was her sixth of the season. That is the highest total by a Falcon pitcher in 15 years, since BGSU Hall-of-Famer Liz Vrabel had eight complete-game shutouts in 2006.
BGSU-CMU GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
•  The Chippewas, after suffering a shutout loss on Friday, got off to a quick start on Saturday. After Abbey Tolmie singled with one out in the top of the first inning, Emily Bracamonte hit a two-out, two-run homer to put the visitors in front early.
• But, the Falcons struck right back. Greta L'Esperance led off the home half of the first with a single, then stole second, and after Sammy Dees reached on an error, Madi McCoy doubled to score both runners. Then, after CMU starter Cloe Mallory struck out the next two batters, Sophie Weber homered to center to give the Falcons a 4-2 lead.
• CMU retook the lead in the third. Michaleigh Vallimont doubled with one out, and Bracamonte singled. Payton Gottshall struck out the next hitter, but Morgan Gardner followed with a three-run homer to make it a 5-4 game.
• Central added a run in the fourth, as Abigail Niehaus was hit by a Harlie Vannatter pitch, and Shaidan Knapp walked. Sydney Stepp entered the game and got back-to-back grounders to produce outs, but Niehaus advanced to third on the first and scored on the second. Then, however, Stepp struck out Bracamonte to end the inning.
• BG got a runner as far as third base in the bottom of the fourth, as Weber doubled, and Nikki Sorgi's sacrifice bunt sent pinch-runner Marlie McNulty to third. But, Mallory got a foul pop to first and a strikeout to end the threat.
• The Falcons got a run back in the fifth, when L'Esperance singled and came around to score on a McCoy single. McCoy got as far as second base, but a pair of strikeouts got Mallory out of the inning.
• Central added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh. In the sixth, Tolmie singled and scored on a Gardner base hit. In the seventh, after a Shannon Stein double and a Niehaus walk, Knapp reached when her bunt was thrown away for an error. Stein scored on the play, with Niehaus crossing the plate on a Tolmie grounder.
• The Falcons loaded the bases against reliever Faith Howe in the bottom of ht eseventh, as L'Esperance, Sammy Dees and McCoy all singled. But, Howe struck out the next hitter, then got a game-ending grounder to short.
BGSU-CMU GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• CMU starter Kaitlyn Bean allowed just six hits in her complete-game effort, but one of those hits was a Sarah Gonzalez homer to lead off the BGSU third. And, that run proved to be all of the offense Gottshall would need.
• After retiring nine-straight batters to begin the game, Gottshall allowed a leadoff single to Knapp in the fourth inning. But, she proceeded to strike out the next three Chippewas.
• Gardner doubled to begin the fifth, but two infield popups were followed by a Kelsey Alexander liner that was caught by Nikki Sorgi in right field.
• Tolmie walked with two outs in the sixth, but Gottshall then retired the final four Central batters of the day.
STATS & LEADERS
• L'Esperance and McCoy each went 3-for-4 in the opener, with L'Esperance scoring a pair of runs and McCoy driving in three. Weber was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer.
• CMU outhit BG, 12-10, in the first game, with Gardner going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs. Four of Gardner's teammates had two hits apiece.
• Mallory picked up the win, allowing five runs – but just two earned – and seven hits in five innings. Howe allowed three hits in two shutout innings of relief, and the duo combined to strike out 12 without issuing a walk.
• Gottshall took the loss, allowing five runs and six hits. Stepp, the third BG pitcher, gave up two earned runs in four innings, striking out six.
• In game two, Gottshall allowed just two hits in her complete-game shutout, walking one while striking out nine.
• Bean took the loss for CMU, allowing one run on six hits. She issued two walks and struck out seven.
• At the plate, eight different players (six for BG, two for CMU) had one hit apiece, with a homer by Gonzalez and doubles by Sammy Dees and Gardner the only extra-base hits of the contest.
NOTES
• Redshirt freshman Greta L'Esperance now has 13 stolen bases through 18 games this season. Last year, the Falcons had 14 steals as a team in 17 games.
• Payton Gottshall now has 292 strikeouts in her BGSU career. With her last K in Saturday's second game, she moved into ninth place on the school career – career! – strikeout list. Gottshall moved past Vicki Miwa (291 strikeouts from 1986-88), and her next target is eighth-place Lisa Mountjoy (296 from 1992-95).
UP NEXT
• The BGSU-CMU series concludes with a single game on Sunday (March 21). First pitch is set for 12:00 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.
HASHTAG
#AyZiggy
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The win gave the Falcons (10-8, 2-1 MAC) a split of the day's doubleheader with the Chippewas (3-9, 1-2 MAC), who picked up a 9-5 win in game one.
Madi McCoy and Greta L'Esperance each went 3-for-4 in the opener, with McCoy driving in three runs and L'Esperance scoring twice. Sophie Weber had a two-run homer in that game as well. But, CMU's Morgan Gardner was 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI.
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NOTEWORTHY
• Payton Gottshall's complete-game shutout on Saturday was her sixth of the season. That is the highest total by a Falcon pitcher in 15 years, since BGSU Hall-of-Famer Liz Vrabel had eight complete-game shutouts in 2006.
BGSU-CMU GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
•  The Chippewas, after suffering a shutout loss on Friday, got off to a quick start on Saturday. After Abbey Tolmie singled with one out in the top of the first inning, Emily Bracamonte hit a two-out, two-run homer to put the visitors in front early.
• But, the Falcons struck right back. Greta L'Esperance led off the home half of the first with a single, then stole second, and after Sammy Dees reached on an error, Madi McCoy doubled to score both runners. Then, after CMU starter Cloe Mallory struck out the next two batters, Sophie Weber homered to center to give the Falcons a 4-2 lead.
• CMU retook the lead in the third. Michaleigh Vallimont doubled with one out, and Bracamonte singled. Payton Gottshall struck out the next hitter, but Morgan Gardner followed with a three-run homer to make it a 5-4 game.
• Central added a run in the fourth, as Abigail Niehaus was hit by a Harlie Vannatter pitch, and Shaidan Knapp walked. Sydney Stepp entered the game and got back-to-back grounders to produce outs, but Niehaus advanced to third on the first and scored on the second. Then, however, Stepp struck out Bracamonte to end the inning.
• BG got a runner as far as third base in the bottom of the fourth, as Weber doubled, and Nikki Sorgi's sacrifice bunt sent pinch-runner Marlie McNulty to third. But, Mallory got a foul pop to first and a strikeout to end the threat.
• The Falcons got a run back in the fifth, when L'Esperance singled and came around to score on a McCoy single. McCoy got as far as second base, but a pair of strikeouts got Mallory out of the inning.
• Central added a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh. In the sixth, Tolmie singled and scored on a Gardner base hit. In the seventh, after a Shannon Stein double and a Niehaus walk, Knapp reached when her bunt was thrown away for an error. Stein scored on the play, with Niehaus crossing the plate on a Tolmie grounder.
• The Falcons loaded the bases against reliever Faith Howe in the bottom of ht eseventh, as L'Esperance, Sammy Dees and McCoy all singled. But, Howe struck out the next hitter, then got a game-ending grounder to short.
BGSU-CMU GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• CMU starter Kaitlyn Bean allowed just six hits in her complete-game effort, but one of those hits was a Sarah Gonzalez homer to lead off the BGSU third. And, that run proved to be all of the offense Gottshall would need.
• After retiring nine-straight batters to begin the game, Gottshall allowed a leadoff single to Knapp in the fourth inning. But, she proceeded to strike out the next three Chippewas.
• Gardner doubled to begin the fifth, but two infield popups were followed by a Kelsey Alexander liner that was caught by Nikki Sorgi in right field.
• Tolmie walked with two outs in the sixth, but Gottshall then retired the final four Central batters of the day.
STATS & LEADERS
• L'Esperance and McCoy each went 3-for-4 in the opener, with L'Esperance scoring a pair of runs and McCoy driving in three. Weber was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer.
• CMU outhit BG, 12-10, in the first game, with Gardner going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs. Four of Gardner's teammates had two hits apiece.
• Mallory picked up the win, allowing five runs – but just two earned – and seven hits in five innings. Howe allowed three hits in two shutout innings of relief, and the duo combined to strike out 12 without issuing a walk.
• Gottshall took the loss, allowing five runs and six hits. Stepp, the third BG pitcher, gave up two earned runs in four innings, striking out six.
• In game two, Gottshall allowed just two hits in her complete-game shutout, walking one while striking out nine.
• Bean took the loss for CMU, allowing one run on six hits. She issued two walks and struck out seven.
• At the plate, eight different players (six for BG, two for CMU) had one hit apiece, with a homer by Gonzalez and doubles by Sammy Dees and Gardner the only extra-base hits of the contest.
NOTES
• Redshirt freshman Greta L'Esperance now has 13 stolen bases through 18 games this season. Last year, the Falcons had 14 steals as a team in 17 games.
• Payton Gottshall now has 292 strikeouts in her BGSU career. With her last K in Saturday's second game, she moved into ninth place on the school career – career! – strikeout list. Gottshall moved past Vicki Miwa (291 strikeouts from 1986-88), and her next target is eighth-place Lisa Mountjoy (296 from 1992-95).
UP NEXT
• The BGSU-CMU series concludes with a single game on Sunday (March 21). First pitch is set for 12:00 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.
HASHTAG
#AyZiggy
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MALLORY, C. (1-3)
L: Gottshall, Payton (9-4)
Batting:
2B: VALLIMONT, M 2 ; ALEXANDER, K 1 ; STEIN, S. 1
HR: BRACAMONTE,E 1 ; GARDNER, M. 1
RBI: TOLMIE, A. 1 ; VALLIMONT, M 1 ; BRACAMONTE,E 2 ; GARDNER, M. 4
SH: KNAPP, S. 1 ; NIEHAUS, A. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: TOLMIE, A. 2 ; KNAPP, T. 1 ; BRACAMONTE,E 2 ; GARDNER, M. 1 ; STEIN, S. 1 ; NIEHAUS, A. 2
HBP: NIEHAUS, A. 1
Batting:
2B: McCoy, Madi 1 ; Weber, Sophie 1
HR: Weber, Sophie 1
RBI: McCoy, Madi 3 ; Weber, Sophie 2
SH: Sorgi, Nikki 1
SF: Dees, Sammy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: L'Esperance, Greta 2 ; Dees, Sammy 1 ; McCoy, Madi 1 ; Weber, Sophie 1
SB: L'Esperance, Greta 1 ; McCoy, Madi 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
SS/2B
/ Softball
IF
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P
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/ SoftballSS
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OF
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IF
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P
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