Saturday, April 2
Bowling Green, Ohio
1:00 PM
Bowling Green State University
16-9, 4-3
6
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Toledo
8-19, 1-5
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3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Toledo
0
0
0
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Bowling Green
2
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X
6
8
2
Greta L'Esperance hit an inside-the-park homer in Saturday's first win
Photo by: Morgan Holscher, BGSU Athletics
Falcons Come From Behind to Complete Series Sweep of Rockets
April 02, 2022 | Softball
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Gottshall fires a one-hit gem in the opener, picks up the win in game two as well
The Bowling Green State University softball team scored five-straight runs to post a 5-3, come-from-behind victory over the University of Toledo on Saturday afternoon (April 2). The win completed a sweep of both Saturday's doubleheader and the teams' three-game Mid-American Conference weekend series at Meserve Field.
Payton Gottshall, who pitched a gem in Saturday's opener, earned the win with 2 2/3 innings of two-hit shutout relief in game two. Gottshall threw a one-hit shutout in the first game of the day, a 6-0 BGSU win.
A bevy of BG players contributed to the victories. Greta L'Esperance had two hits, including an inside-the-park homer, in the first game, while Peyton Dolejs was 2-for-2 with a walk. Both players scored a pair of runs in the game.
Madison Hendrix broke that game open with a base-loaded pinch-hit double in the fifth, as all three baserunners scored to give BG a five-run lead.
Wynnie Reid, who had two hits in the opener, had a walk and a hit in the nightcap for the Falcons (17-9, 5-3 MAC). Bailey Sample and Ally Bezjak had two-hit games in the second contest, with Sample driving in a pair of runs in the third after BG had fallen behind, 3-0.
Reid walked and came around to score in the fifth, tying the game, and BG took the lead with a two-out rally in the sixth. Makailah Dees walked, and Bezjak lined a ball into the gap in right-center, with Dees coming all the way around to score. A nifty slide by Dees at the plate enabled her to avoid a tag attempt by UT catcher Maris Barbato.
Then, after Lexi Carver drew a walk, Reid greeted a UT reliever with a sharp single that scored pinch-runner Marlie McNulty.
The Rockets (8-20, 1-6 MAC) put two runners aboard on a pair of seventh-inning singles, but after a lengthy at-bat, Gottshall struck out Sydney McKeever to end the contest.
The BGSU defense made several spectacular plays in the second game, including -- but not limited to -- diving catches by L'Esperance, Dees and Reid.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Payton Gottshall set down the Rockets in order to begin the day's action, and the Falcon offense went to work. The UT defense employed a shift against leadoff hitter Greta L'Esperance, but L'Esperance beat the shift, to say the very least. She lined a ball up the middle that split the Toledo fielders and rolled all the way to the wall in dead center. When the smoke had cleared, L'Esperance had an inside-the-park homer and the Falcons had a 1-0 lead.
• Peyton Dolejs followed by lining a ball to deep right for a double. Rocket hurler Ellie Price retired the next hitter, but a fly ball off the bat of Reagan Williamson grazed off of the glove of the rightfielder, with Dolejs scoring on the two-base error.
• That would prove to be all of the scoring until the fifth. Gottshall struck out two Rockets in a one-two-three second inning, and after Sydney McKeever reached on an infield error to begin the third, the BG soph set down the next seven hitters in a row.
• Meanwhile, Price rallied nicely after allowing the two runs in the first. The UT freshman worked around a walk to Sarah Gonzalez in the second inning, and retired the next two batters after a Dolejs one-out single in the third. She set down the Falcons in order in the fourth.
• In the top of the fifth, UT's Arika Reed reached on an error to snap Gottshall's string of seven-straight retired, but the BG pitcher got a fielder's-choice grounder before striking out pinch-hitter Madison Mikulski.
• BG broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth. Wynnie Reid doubled with one out, and a perfect bunt by L'Esperance put runners at the corners. After L'Esperance stole second, a walk to Dolejs loaded the bases. Price got the second out on a foul pop, but pinch-hitter Madison Hendrix hit a ball to the wall in center for a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double that gave the Orange and Brown a 5-0 lead.
• Dayna Denner singled – the Rockets' first and only hit of the game – with two down in the sixth, and Jenna Kroll drew a walk, but Gottshall struck out Aubrey Reed on three pitches to end the threat.
• BG tacked on another run when pinch-hitter Maycee Godbolt doubled with two down in the home half of the sixth, and Reid followed by drilling a ball to right-center for an RBI triple.
• Gottshall hit the leadoff batter with a pitch in the seventh, then got a grounder for the first out before striking out a pair of pinch hitters to lock down the shutout win.
• In the nightcap, both starters – BGSU's Sydney Stepp and UT's Sophia Knight – pitched a pair of scoreless innings to begin the game. L'Esperance reached on an error while Bailey Sample singled in the Falcon first, but a strikeout ended the threat. That was the first of five-straight strikeouts for Knight.
• Meanwhile, Stepp set down six consecutive batters to begin the game, striking out three in a row at one point. But, Sidney Griffith led off the third inning with a double, and an infield hit by Lexi Eckman put runners at the corners. With one out, Anna Dixon lifted a ball to left-center field. L'Esperance made a spectacular diving catch, but Griffith was able to tag and score from third.
• McKeever reached on an error, with Eckman scoring, and McKeever then came around to score on a double by Denner. Kiara Hurley entered the circle for the Falcons and got an inning-ending grounder to third.
• BG got a pair of runs back with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. L'Esperance and Dolejs each walked, and Sample doubled to right to plate both runners.
• Each team had a hit in the fourth, and after Dixon's one-out single in the fifth, Gottshall entered the game. She struck out McKeever on three pitches, and rightfielder Makailah Dees – who had entered the game at the start of the inning, made a diving catch on Denner's fly ball to right-center to end the threat.
• In the home half of the fifth, Reid drew a leadoff walk, and advance to third on a grounder and a fly ball. Then, Sample reached on an error as Reid came home with the tying run.
• Gottshall worked a one-two-three sixth inning, capped by Reid's diving catch on an Arika Reed fly ball in shallow right. Then, BGSU took the lead with another two-out rally.
• Knight retired the first two hitters of the inning, before Dees drew a walk. Ally Bezjak lined a ball to right-center, with Dees coming all the way around to score what would prove to be the winning run. Lexi Carver drew a walk, and Reid greeted Rocket relief pitcher McKenna Schmidt with a single that scored pinch-runner Marlie McNulty to give the Falcons a two-run lead.
• UT threatened in the seventh, as Eckman singled with one out and Dixon had a two-out infield hit. But, after a lengthy at-bat, Gottshall struck out McKeever to end the game.
Gallery: (4-2-2022) Softball v Toledo - April 2 2022
STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• The Falcons had eight hits in the opener, with Dolejs, Reid and L'Esperance each picking up two. Dolejs was 2-for-2 with a walk, a double and two runs scored. Reid had a double and a triple in the win, while L'Esperance stole a base and scored two runs, including the inside-the-park homer.
• Six of BGSU's eight hits went for extra bases, as Godbolt and Hendrix each doubled. Hendrix had her third three-RBI game of the season.
• Gottshall picked up the win, firing a complete-game one-hit shutout. She walked just one batter and struck out 11, and threw 66 of her 93 pitches for strikes.
• Price allowed six runs (five earned) and eight hits in six innings, walking two and whiffing two.
• In game two, Bezjak and Sample each went 2-for-3, with Sample driving in two runs and Bezjak one. Reid had the Falcons' other hit, and she also drew a walk.
• UT outhit BG, 7-5, in the nightcap, with Dixon, Eckman and Griffith picking up two hits apiece.
• Gottshall, the third of three BG pitchers, earned the win in relief with two and two-thirds innings of shutout, two-hit ball. She struck out four and threw 30 of her 44 pitches for strikes.
• Stepp allowed three hits and just one earned run before leaving with two outs in the third. She struck out three and did not walk a batter.
• Hurley retired five batters, striking out one, while allowing two hits in her shutout relief stint. In all, BG hurlers had eight strikeouts and no walks.
• Knight took the loss, allowing four earned runs and four hits in five-and-two-thirds innings of work. She walked five and struck out seven. Schmidt got one out (via strikeout) and allowed one hit.
• Four of those five BG batters who walked would come around to score.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons head to Kalamazoo for some midweek #MACtion in Michigan. BGSU will face Western Michigan in a Tuesday (April 5) single game and a Wednesday (April 6) doubleheader.
• BG will be back at Meserve Field next weekend, with a Saturday (April 9) twinbill followed by a Sunday (April 10) single game.
FOLLOW THE FALCONS
For more information on 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.
Payton Gottshall, who pitched a gem in Saturday's opener, earned the win with 2 2/3 innings of two-hit shutout relief in game two. Gottshall threw a one-hit shutout in the first game of the day, a 6-0 BGSU win.
A bevy of BG players contributed to the victories. Greta L'Esperance had two hits, including an inside-the-park homer, in the first game, while Peyton Dolejs was 2-for-2 with a walk. Both players scored a pair of runs in the game.
Madison Hendrix broke that game open with a base-loaded pinch-hit double in the fifth, as all three baserunners scored to give BG a five-run lead.
Wynnie Reid, who had two hits in the opener, had a walk and a hit in the nightcap for the Falcons (17-9, 5-3 MAC). Bailey Sample and Ally Bezjak had two-hit games in the second contest, with Sample driving in a pair of runs in the third after BG had fallen behind, 3-0.
Reid walked and came around to score in the fifth, tying the game, and BG took the lead with a two-out rally in the sixth. Makailah Dees walked, and Bezjak lined a ball into the gap in right-center, with Dees coming all the way around to score. A nifty slide by Dees at the plate enabled her to avoid a tag attempt by UT catcher Maris Barbato.
Then, after Lexi Carver drew a walk, Reid greeted a UT reliever with a sharp single that scored pinch-runner Marlie McNulty.
The Rockets (8-20, 1-6 MAC) put two runners aboard on a pair of seventh-inning singles, but after a lengthy at-bat, Gottshall struck out Sydney McKeever to end the contest.
The BGSU defense made several spectacular plays in the second game, including -- but not limited to -- diving catches by L'Esperance, Dees and Reid.
📹HIGHLIGHTS‼️📹
— BGSU Softball (@BGSUSoftball) April 3, 2022
The Falcons downed Toledo, 5-3, to complete a 3-game weekend sweep!#AyZiggy | 🥎🧡🥎🧡🥎 pic.twitter.com/5mxt7YNjNa
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Payton Gottshall set down the Rockets in order to begin the day's action, and the Falcon offense went to work. The UT defense employed a shift against leadoff hitter Greta L'Esperance, but L'Esperance beat the shift, to say the very least. She lined a ball up the middle that split the Toledo fielders and rolled all the way to the wall in dead center. When the smoke had cleared, L'Esperance had an inside-the-park homer and the Falcons had a 1-0 lead.
• Peyton Dolejs followed by lining a ball to deep right for a double. Rocket hurler Ellie Price retired the next hitter, but a fly ball off the bat of Reagan Williamson grazed off of the glove of the rightfielder, with Dolejs scoring on the two-base error.
• That would prove to be all of the scoring until the fifth. Gottshall struck out two Rockets in a one-two-three second inning, and after Sydney McKeever reached on an infield error to begin the third, the BG soph set down the next seven hitters in a row.
• Meanwhile, Price rallied nicely after allowing the two runs in the first. The UT freshman worked around a walk to Sarah Gonzalez in the second inning, and retired the next two batters after a Dolejs one-out single in the third. She set down the Falcons in order in the fourth.
• In the top of the fifth, UT's Arika Reed reached on an error to snap Gottshall's string of seven-straight retired, but the BG pitcher got a fielder's-choice grounder before striking out pinch-hitter Madison Mikulski.
• BG broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth. Wynnie Reid doubled with one out, and a perfect bunt by L'Esperance put runners at the corners. After L'Esperance stole second, a walk to Dolejs loaded the bases. Price got the second out on a foul pop, but pinch-hitter Madison Hendrix hit a ball to the wall in center for a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double that gave the Orange and Brown a 5-0 lead.
• Dayna Denner singled – the Rockets' first and only hit of the game – with two down in the sixth, and Jenna Kroll drew a walk, but Gottshall struck out Aubrey Reed on three pitches to end the threat.
• BG tacked on another run when pinch-hitter Maycee Godbolt doubled with two down in the home half of the sixth, and Reid followed by drilling a ball to right-center for an RBI triple.
• Gottshall hit the leadoff batter with a pitch in the seventh, then got a grounder for the first out before striking out a pair of pinch hitters to lock down the shutout win.
• In the nightcap, both starters – BGSU's Sydney Stepp and UT's Sophia Knight – pitched a pair of scoreless innings to begin the game. L'Esperance reached on an error while Bailey Sample singled in the Falcon first, but a strikeout ended the threat. That was the first of five-straight strikeouts for Knight.
• Meanwhile, Stepp set down six consecutive batters to begin the game, striking out three in a row at one point. But, Sidney Griffith led off the third inning with a double, and an infield hit by Lexi Eckman put runners at the corners. With one out, Anna Dixon lifted a ball to left-center field. L'Esperance made a spectacular diving catch, but Griffith was able to tag and score from third.
• McKeever reached on an error, with Eckman scoring, and McKeever then came around to score on a double by Denner. Kiara Hurley entered the circle for the Falcons and got an inning-ending grounder to third.
• BG got a pair of runs back with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. L'Esperance and Dolejs each walked, and Sample doubled to right to plate both runners.
• Each team had a hit in the fourth, and after Dixon's one-out single in the fifth, Gottshall entered the game. She struck out McKeever on three pitches, and rightfielder Makailah Dees – who had entered the game at the start of the inning, made a diving catch on Denner's fly ball to right-center to end the threat.
• In the home half of the fifth, Reid drew a leadoff walk, and advance to third on a grounder and a fly ball. Then, Sample reached on an error as Reid came home with the tying run.
• Gottshall worked a one-two-three sixth inning, capped by Reid's diving catch on an Arika Reed fly ball in shallow right. Then, BGSU took the lead with another two-out rally.
• Knight retired the first two hitters of the inning, before Dees drew a walk. Ally Bezjak lined a ball to right-center, with Dees coming all the way around to score what would prove to be the winning run. Lexi Carver drew a walk, and Reid greeted Rocket relief pitcher McKenna Schmidt with a single that scored pinch-runner Marlie McNulty to give the Falcons a two-run lead.
• UT threatened in the seventh, as Eckman singled with one out and Dixon had a two-out infield hit. But, after a lengthy at-bat, Gottshall struck out McKeever to end the game.
STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• The Falcons had eight hits in the opener, with Dolejs, Reid and L'Esperance each picking up two. Dolejs was 2-for-2 with a walk, a double and two runs scored. Reid had a double and a triple in the win, while L'Esperance stole a base and scored two runs, including the inside-the-park homer.
• Six of BGSU's eight hits went for extra bases, as Godbolt and Hendrix each doubled. Hendrix had her third three-RBI game of the season.
• Gottshall picked up the win, firing a complete-game one-hit shutout. She walked just one batter and struck out 11, and threw 66 of her 93 pitches for strikes.
• Price allowed six runs (five earned) and eight hits in six innings, walking two and whiffing two.
• In game two, Bezjak and Sample each went 2-for-3, with Sample driving in two runs and Bezjak one. Reid had the Falcons' other hit, and she also drew a walk.
• UT outhit BG, 7-5, in the nightcap, with Dixon, Eckman and Griffith picking up two hits apiece.
• Gottshall, the third of three BG pitchers, earned the win in relief with two and two-thirds innings of shutout, two-hit ball. She struck out four and threw 30 of her 44 pitches for strikes.
• Stepp allowed three hits and just one earned run before leaving with two outs in the third. She struck out three and did not walk a batter.
• Hurley retired five batters, striking out one, while allowing two hits in her shutout relief stint. In all, BG hurlers had eight strikeouts and no walks.
• Knight took the loss, allowing four earned runs and four hits in five-and-two-thirds innings of work. She walked five and struck out seven. Schmidt got one out (via strikeout) and allowed one hit.
• Four of those five BG batters who walked would come around to score.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons head to Kalamazoo for some midweek #MACtion in Michigan. BGSU will face Western Michigan in a Tuesday (April 5) single game and a Wednesday (April 6) doubleheader.
• BG will be back at Meserve Field next weekend, with a Saturday (April 9) twinbill followed by a Sunday (April 10) single game.
FOLLOW THE FALCONS
For more information on 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.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gottshall, Payton (11-6)
L: PRICE, Ellie (0-2)
Base Running:
SB: McKEEVER, Sydney 2
HBP: COLLINS, Chelsea 1
Batting:
2B: Dolejs, Peyton 1 ; Hendrix, Madison 1 ; Godbolt, Maycee 1 ; Reid, Wynnie 1
3B: Reid, Wynnie 1
HR: L'Esperance, Greta 1
RBI: L'Esperance, Greta 1 ; Hendrix, Madison 3 ; Reid, Wynnie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: L'Esperance, Greta 2 ; Dolejs, Peyton 2 ; Godbolt, Maycee 1 ; Reid, Wynnie 1
SB: L'Esperance, Greta 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
1B
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballUtil.
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballMI
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballUtil.
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
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