Saturday, April 10
Buffalo, N.Y.
1:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
14-16, 6-9
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7
Buffalo
9-19, 7-6
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3
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7
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Bowling Green
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Buffalo
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Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics
Falcons Strike Twice in Sixth for 5-4 Comeback Win
April 10, 2021 | Softball
BGSU, Bulls split Saturday's twinbill
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Bowling Green State University softball team scored a pair of sixth-inning runs to overtake the University at Buffalo Saturday afternoon (April 10), and the Falcons went on to a 5-4 win and a split of the teams' doubleheader at Nan Harvey Field.
Madi McCoy's two-out double plated Sammy Dees with the go-ahead run for the Falcons (15-16, 7-9 Mid-American Conference) in that sixth frame. Moments earlier, Dees had driven Peyton Dolejs home to tie the game and set the stage for McCoy's heroics.
Dolejs was 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the victory, and the freshman's two hits included the first home run of her young career.
Hannah Davies picked up the win, throwing a complete game and allowing just four hits.
The Bulls (now 9-20, 7-7 MAC) captured Saturday's opening game by a 7-2 score.
BGSU outhit UB by a wide margin in both games. But, as was the case on Friday, the bulk of Buffalo's runs on Saturday came via the long ball.
BG left a total of 23 runners in base in the two games, compared to just five for the hosts.
The Falcons had a 12-4 advantage in hits in Saturday's opener, but all seven UB runs came in the second inning, via just three hits. A grand slam by Alicia Peters was the big blow in the inning.
Sydney Stepp faced just two batters over the minimum in her four-and-a-third-inning relief stint in game one. She retired 10 straight batters at one point, and allowed just one walk and one hit while striking out six.
Maycee Godbolt came off the bench to go 2-for-2 in the opener. Greta L'Esperance had three hits and McCoy two as the Falcons, as mentioned, had a 12-4 advantage in that category.
L'Esperance and McCoy each had four total hits in the twinbill, while Nikki Sorgi had three. On the day, BG had 20 hits to UB's eight.
QUOTING COACH WILLIS
"The series against Buffalo revealed what we need to work on going into next weekend's series against Ohio. Â We had several opportunities with runners in scoring position and consistently let the moment get too big for us. Â Too many runners were left on base. Â Our offense will be cleaning up our approach when it comes to runners in scoring position."
"In the circle, we must find a way to come out strong and minimize the big innings by eliminating the free passes. In game one, Stepp came in on relief and did a good job of regaining control of the defense and keeping the Buffalo offense off balance. In game two, Davies showed strong in several innings, but we still gave them too many free passes and misses. Â She did a good job working through the game and threw a strong final seventh inning to finish the game for the win."
BGSU-UB GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• BGSU had no trouble getting runners on base against a pair of UB pitchers, as the Falcons pounded out 12 hits to just four for the Bulls. BG hitters also drew five walks, but the Falcons left 14 runners on base to the home team's two in the game.
• The Falcons took the lead in the top of the first, on three-straight hits against UB starter Ally Marcano. Greta L'Esperance led off the game with a hit, and Sammy Dees followed suit to score L'Esperance from second. A Madi McCoy double sent Dees to third, but Marcano then struck out the next three hitters.
• BGSU starter Harlie Vannatter worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the first, with leftfielder Peyton Dolejs making a nifty catch in foul territory to end the inning. But, the Bulls would strike in the second inning.
• After a leadoff single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch would load the bases with one out. Olivia Kincanon walked to force home a run, and Anna Aguon reached base when catcher's interference was called, allowing another run to score. Then, Alicia Peters hit a grand slam to make it a 6-1 game.
• Sydney Stepp entered the circle and got a grounder to second, before Alexis Matheney followed with a solo homer. After that, however, Stepp retired the next 10 batters and 12 of the next 13.
• But, despite putting runners on base in each of the last five innings, the Falcons could score just once more. In the third, BGSU loaded the bases on a L'Esperance bunt single, a McCoy hit and an Evelyn Loyola walk, before UB got out of the jam.
• Sarah Gonzalez singled in the fourth, and Sammy Dees and Loyola each walked in the fifth. In that latter inning, Maycee Godbolt and Nikki Sorgi each had hits as well, but a double play on a fly ball that was caught at the wall helped Marcano and reliever Julia Tarantino keep BG off the scoreboard.
• Dolejs and the Falcons got a run closer in the sixth. Dolejs lined a sharp single past the diving third baseman with one out, and L'Esperance followed with a bunt single. Dolejs went all the way to third after a UB player fielded the ball and threw toward first base, even though no one was covering.
• Sammy Dees walked to load the bases, and a McCoy grounder allowed Dolejs to score.
• Godbolt led off the seventh with her second hit in as many at-bats, and Sorgi followed with a base hit as well. A grounder moved the runners up, and a Sophie Weber walk loaded the bases with two down, but Tarantino got a popup to end the game.
BGSU-UB GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Bulls broke on top in the second game, and again, it was a homer in the second inning that got UB on the board. After Matheney walked, Alexis Lucyshyn's round-tripper made it a 2-0 game.
• But, in the top of the third, Peyton Dolejs drilled a ball to left for a solo homer, the third of her career. Marlie McNulty was hit by a pitch, and a L'Esperance single sent McNulty to second. She took third on a fly ball to right, and scored on a McCoy grounder that tied the game.
• And, the next inning, the Falcons took the lead. Sorgi and Gonzalez drew back-to-back one-out walks against starting pitcher Lucyshyn, and an infield single by Dolejs loaded the bases. Pinch-hitter Sophie Weber followed with a base hit that plated Sorgi.
• Lucyshyn avoided further damage as a Sammy Dees two-out scorcher hit her in the leg. Instead of going up the middle and into center field, the ball dropped at Lucyshyn's feet and she was able to recover in time to throw to first.
• In the home half of the fourth, though, another Matheney walk was followed by a homer. This time it came with one out, off the bat of Jenna Richmond, and the Bulls had a 4-3 lead.
• BG threatened but did not score in the fifth. A McCoy single was erased by a double-play ball, but Emma Miller drew a pinch-hit walk, and Sorgi singled up the middle. A wild pitch put two runners in scoring position, but a drive to right was caught to retire the side.
• But, the Falcons turned two in the bottom of the inning before Davies got an inning-ending strikeout, and BG took the lead against reliever Madelyn Hickingbottom in the sixth.
• Dolejs led off with a walk and immediately took second on a wild pitch before stealing third. Hickingbottom would strike out the next two Falcons, before Sammy Dees lined a ball that got past the third baseman to score Dolejs. Dees then scored on McCoy's double to left, and the Falcons had the lead.
• In the home half of the sixth, Lucyshyn walked with one down and took second on a groundout, but Davies again got an inning-ending strikeout. Then, the Falcon hurler worked a perfect seventh inning, getting a ground ball to third, a fly ball to right and a popup that shortstop McCoy caught in shallow left.
STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• In the opener, L'Esperance went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Godbolt was 2-for-2 and McCoy and Sorgi both 2-for-4 in the contest, and Sammy Dees had a hit, two walks and an RBI. McCoy also drove in a run.
• Stepp allowed just one run and one hit in 4 2/3 innings of relief. She faced just two batters over the minimum, retiring 10 in a row at one point. In all, she set down 14 of the 16 hitters she faced, walking one and striking out six.
• Peters had two of her team's four hits, but one was a grand slam. Matheney homered in three trips for the hosts.
• Marcano picked up the win, allowing eight hits but just one run before leaving with two outs in the fifth. Tarantino gave up a run and four hits while picking up the final seven outs. The two combined to walk five and strike out six.
• Dolejs was 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk and two runs scored in the nightcap. McCoy was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, and Sorgi was 1-for-1 with two walks and a run.
• Davies earned the complete-game win, allowing four hits in seven innings. She issued four walks, but struck out seven.
• Hickingbottom took the loss in relief, pitching the final two innings. Aguon had two hits, while Lucyshyn and Richmond each homered.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons head to Athens next weekend for a four-game series vs. Ohio University. The series begins with a single game on Friday (April 16) at 3:00 p.m.
• BGSU's next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28, when Toledo comes to Meserve Field for a twinbill.
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
Â
Madi McCoy's two-out double plated Sammy Dees with the go-ahead run for the Falcons (15-16, 7-9 Mid-American Conference) in that sixth frame. Moments earlier, Dees had driven Peyton Dolejs home to tie the game and set the stage for McCoy's heroics.
Dolejs was 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the victory, and the freshman's two hits included the first home run of her young career.
Hannah Davies picked up the win, throwing a complete game and allowing just four hits.
The Bulls (now 9-20, 7-7 MAC) captured Saturday's opening game by a 7-2 score.
BGSU outhit UB by a wide margin in both games. But, as was the case on Friday, the bulk of Buffalo's runs on Saturday came via the long ball.
BG left a total of 23 runners in base in the two games, compared to just five for the hosts.
The Falcons had a 12-4 advantage in hits in Saturday's opener, but all seven UB runs came in the second inning, via just three hits. A grand slam by Alicia Peters was the big blow in the inning.
Sydney Stepp faced just two batters over the minimum in her four-and-a-third-inning relief stint in game one. She retired 10 straight batters at one point, and allowed just one walk and one hit while striking out six.
Maycee Godbolt came off the bench to go 2-for-2 in the opener. Greta L'Esperance had three hits and McCoy two as the Falcons, as mentioned, had a 12-4 advantage in that category.
L'Esperance and McCoy each had four total hits in the twinbill, while Nikki Sorgi had three. On the day, BG had 20 hits to UB's eight.
QUOTING COACH WILLIS
"The series against Buffalo revealed what we need to work on going into next weekend's series against Ohio. Â We had several opportunities with runners in scoring position and consistently let the moment get too big for us. Â Too many runners were left on base. Â Our offense will be cleaning up our approach when it comes to runners in scoring position."
"In the circle, we must find a way to come out strong and minimize the big innings by eliminating the free passes. In game one, Stepp came in on relief and did a good job of regaining control of the defense and keeping the Buffalo offense off balance. In game two, Davies showed strong in several innings, but we still gave them too many free passes and misses. Â She did a good job working through the game and threw a strong final seventh inning to finish the game for the win."
BGSU-UB GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• BGSU had no trouble getting runners on base against a pair of UB pitchers, as the Falcons pounded out 12 hits to just four for the Bulls. BG hitters also drew five walks, but the Falcons left 14 runners on base to the home team's two in the game.
• The Falcons took the lead in the top of the first, on three-straight hits against UB starter Ally Marcano. Greta L'Esperance led off the game with a hit, and Sammy Dees followed suit to score L'Esperance from second. A Madi McCoy double sent Dees to third, but Marcano then struck out the next three hitters.
• BGSU starter Harlie Vannatter worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the first, with leftfielder Peyton Dolejs making a nifty catch in foul territory to end the inning. But, the Bulls would strike in the second inning.
• After a leadoff single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch would load the bases with one out. Olivia Kincanon walked to force home a run, and Anna Aguon reached base when catcher's interference was called, allowing another run to score. Then, Alicia Peters hit a grand slam to make it a 6-1 game.
• Sydney Stepp entered the circle and got a grounder to second, before Alexis Matheney followed with a solo homer. After that, however, Stepp retired the next 10 batters and 12 of the next 13.
• But, despite putting runners on base in each of the last five innings, the Falcons could score just once more. In the third, BGSU loaded the bases on a L'Esperance bunt single, a McCoy hit and an Evelyn Loyola walk, before UB got out of the jam.
• Sarah Gonzalez singled in the fourth, and Sammy Dees and Loyola each walked in the fifth. In that latter inning, Maycee Godbolt and Nikki Sorgi each had hits as well, but a double play on a fly ball that was caught at the wall helped Marcano and reliever Julia Tarantino keep BG off the scoreboard.
• Dolejs and the Falcons got a run closer in the sixth. Dolejs lined a sharp single past the diving third baseman with one out, and L'Esperance followed with a bunt single. Dolejs went all the way to third after a UB player fielded the ball and threw toward first base, even though no one was covering.
• Sammy Dees walked to load the bases, and a McCoy grounder allowed Dolejs to score.
• Godbolt led off the seventh with her second hit in as many at-bats, and Sorgi followed with a base hit as well. A grounder moved the runners up, and a Sophie Weber walk loaded the bases with two down, but Tarantino got a popup to end the game.
BGSU-UB GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Bulls broke on top in the second game, and again, it was a homer in the second inning that got UB on the board. After Matheney walked, Alexis Lucyshyn's round-tripper made it a 2-0 game.
• But, in the top of the third, Peyton Dolejs drilled a ball to left for a solo homer, the third of her career. Marlie McNulty was hit by a pitch, and a L'Esperance single sent McNulty to second. She took third on a fly ball to right, and scored on a McCoy grounder that tied the game.
• And, the next inning, the Falcons took the lead. Sorgi and Gonzalez drew back-to-back one-out walks against starting pitcher Lucyshyn, and an infield single by Dolejs loaded the bases. Pinch-hitter Sophie Weber followed with a base hit that plated Sorgi.
• Lucyshyn avoided further damage as a Sammy Dees two-out scorcher hit her in the leg. Instead of going up the middle and into center field, the ball dropped at Lucyshyn's feet and she was able to recover in time to throw to first.
• In the home half of the fourth, though, another Matheney walk was followed by a homer. This time it came with one out, off the bat of Jenna Richmond, and the Bulls had a 4-3 lead.
• BG threatened but did not score in the fifth. A McCoy single was erased by a double-play ball, but Emma Miller drew a pinch-hit walk, and Sorgi singled up the middle. A wild pitch put two runners in scoring position, but a drive to right was caught to retire the side.
• But, the Falcons turned two in the bottom of the inning before Davies got an inning-ending strikeout, and BG took the lead against reliever Madelyn Hickingbottom in the sixth.
• Dolejs led off with a walk and immediately took second on a wild pitch before stealing third. Hickingbottom would strike out the next two Falcons, before Sammy Dees lined a ball that got past the third baseman to score Dolejs. Dees then scored on McCoy's double to left, and the Falcons had the lead.
• In the home half of the sixth, Lucyshyn walked with one down and took second on a groundout, but Davies again got an inning-ending strikeout. Then, the Falcon hurler worked a perfect seventh inning, getting a ground ball to third, a fly ball to right and a popup that shortstop McCoy caught in shallow left.
STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• In the opener, L'Esperance went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Godbolt was 2-for-2 and McCoy and Sorgi both 2-for-4 in the contest, and Sammy Dees had a hit, two walks and an RBI. McCoy also drove in a run.
• Stepp allowed just one run and one hit in 4 2/3 innings of relief. She faced just two batters over the minimum, retiring 10 in a row at one point. In all, she set down 14 of the 16 hitters she faced, walking one and striking out six.
• Peters had two of her team's four hits, but one was a grand slam. Matheney homered in three trips for the hosts.
• Marcano picked up the win, allowing eight hits but just one run before leaving with two outs in the fifth. Tarantino gave up a run and four hits while picking up the final seven outs. The two combined to walk five and strike out six.
• Dolejs was 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk and two runs scored in the nightcap. McCoy was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, and Sorgi was 1-for-1 with two walks and a run.
• Davies earned the complete-game win, allowing four hits in seven innings. She issued four walks, but struck out seven.
• Hickingbottom took the loss in relief, pitching the final two innings. Aguon had two hits, while Lucyshyn and Richmond each homered.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons head to Athens next weekend for a four-game series vs. Ohio University. The series begins with a single game on Friday (April 16) at 3:00 p.m.
• BGSU's next home game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28, when Toledo comes to Meserve Field for a twinbill.
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
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Marcano (4-9)
L: Vannatter, Harlie (1-6)
Batting:
2B: L'Esperance, Greta 1 ; McCoy, Madi 1
RBI: Dees, Sammy 1 ; McCoy, Madi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: L'Esperance, Greta 1 ; Dolejs, Peyton 1
Batting:
HR: Peters 1 ; Matheney 1
RBI: Peters 4 ; Matheney 1 ; Kincanon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aguon 1 ; Peters 1 ; Matheney 1 ; Lucyshyn 1 ; Castro 1 ; Fernimen 1 ; Kincanon 1
SB: Sobaszek 1
HBP: Fernimen 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
ph/dp
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
SS/2B
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/OF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballSS
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
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