Falcons Best Michigan State For First Power 5 Victory Since 2014

Tuesday, March 29

East Lansing, Mich.

4:05 PM

Bowling Green State University

4-16

Michigan State

11-10

Bowling Green

Michigan State

Photo by: Chad Huffman, BGSU Athletics

March 29, 2022 | Baseball

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By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University baseball program put together a complete game against the Michigan State Spartans on Tuesday night (March 29), topping the Big 10 foe 12-3. The win marks the first win over a Power 5 program by the Falcons since 2014, when BGSU beat Michigan 7-4, and the first win against Michigan State since 2009.

At the dish, it was Adam Furnas that led the way for the Falcons with three RBI. Furnas logged three hits in the contest, including a double, to spark the BGSU offense that scored double-digit runs for the second time in the last three games. Furnas was joined in the RBI column by Kyle Gurney, Justin Fugitt and Jack Krause. Krause also scored three times in the game, tying Adam Fallon atop the stat sheet.

As for the performance on the mound, Peyton Wilson provided five innings of work as the starter, giving up just two runs on two hits before turning the ball over to Jeremy Spezia. Spezia tossed the final four innings, replicating the work of Wilson by giving up just one run on three hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Jack Krause started the game with a double down the right field line before Adam Fallon reached on a fielding error, putting two on quickly for the Falcons. Kyle Gurney rose to the occasion, knocking a single to right center to score Krause. A throwing error during the next at-bat allowed Fallon to cross the plate and Gurney to move up to second.
Adam Furnas ripped a single to left in the next at-bat, pushing Gurney home to score on an error. Later in the inning, Justin Fugitt doubled to left center, scoring Furnas to put BGSU up 4-0 after the top half of the first.
Michigan State answered in the bottom half of the inning. After drawing a leadoff walk, a single through the right side allowed the Spartans to cut the deficit down to 4-1 after one inning played.
The Falcons added another run in the second. Back-to-back walks put Krause and Fallon on before a double steal put both in scoring position at second and third, respectively. A Gurney line drive to center was enough to get Krause home before a Furnas single scored Fallon, making it 6-1 BGSU.
A walk in the bottom of the second paired with a groundout and two wild pitches allowed Michigan State to narrow the gap to 6-2.
Bowling Green added to the tally in the fourth. Krause reached on a throwing error and stole second before Fallon singled to put runners at the corners. Fallon stole second himself, setting up a two-RBI double down the right field line by Furnas to extend the BGSU lead to 8-2.
Before the end of the inning, a double steal attempt allowed Furnas to score before the final out of the inning was recorded, making it a 9-2 lead for the Falcons.
In the top of the fifth, Ryan Johnston made his way to second thanks to a walk and groundout, setting up a two-out RBI by Krause on a single to right to put BGSU up 10-2.
Michigan State began the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run, trimming the lead to 10-3.
The Falcons responded in the top of the ninth. Back-to-back singles by Nathan Rose and Tyler Ross put two on for Johnston who was able to log a single and advance to second on an error while both Rose and Ross scored, increasing the BGSU advantage to 12-3.

STAT LEADERS

Adam Furnas: 3-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI
Kyle Gurney: 1-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI
Jack Krause: 2-for-4, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Justin Fugitt: 1-for-2, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Peyton Wilson: W, 5.0 IP, 2 H 2 R/ER, 2 K
Jeremy Spezia: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 2 K

FALCON STAT FACTS

The win marks the first victory over a Power 5 team for the Falcons since the 2014 season when BGSU topped Michigan in Ann Arbor by a score of 7-4.
The win also marks the first against Michigan State since the 2009 season when the Falcons topped the Spartans 16-3.
Adam Furnas led the way at the plate for the Falcons, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Furnas now has at least one RBI in three consecutive games and a double in two straight. He's also has logged three hits in three straight games now.
Kyle Gurney once again logged a base hit for the Falcons, continuing a nine-game hitting streak. Gurney also scored in the contest, marking his sixth straight game crossing the plate.
Hitting from the leadoff spot, Jack Krause crossed the plate three times for the Falcons, tying his season-high. This is the third time he has scored three times in a game this season. Krause logged an RBI as well, his sixth straight game with an RBI.
The win on the bump was the second of the season for Peyton Wilson as he allowed a season-low two hits to the Spartans over five innings.
Jeremy Spezia produced another strong relief appearance, allowing just one run over four innings. Spezia has now allowed one or fewer runs in seven of his 10 outings this season, totaling 16.1 innings of work this year.
Justin Fugitt registered not only his first double of the season, but his first collegiate extra-base hit.
The victory marks the first win as a true visitor this season for BGSU. The Falcons previously beat Saint Louis twice away from Steller Field, but those games were at a neutral site.

QUOTE FROM COACH HALLOCK
"It was a pleasure to watch our team perform at a high level. We executed offensively, defensively and on the mound from start to finish. Our players deserve all the credit for this win because they made it happen. Everyone contributed to this win one way or another.

We understand that this is the expectation for BGSU Baseball every single time we step onto the field. Now we go."

UP NEXT
The Falcons will resume play within the Mid-American Conference this upcoming weekend, hosting the Akron Zips for a four-game series. The first game of the series is set for Friday (April 1) and will be April Fools Day at Steller Field for a 3:05 p.m. first pitch.

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