Broncos Snap BGSU's Win Streak, 5-1

Wednesday, April 6

Kalamazoo, Mich.

5:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

18-10, 6-4

Western Michigan

14-19, 4-4

Bowling Green

Western Michigan

Photo by: Morgan Holscher, BGSU Athletics

April 06, 2022 | Softball

Box Score BGSU-WMU Stats

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan scored four times in the third inning, and the Broncos went on to a 5-1 victory over the Bowling Green State University softball team Wednesday evening (April 6). The Mid-American Conference game was held at Ebert Field.

The second game of the teams' originally-scheduled doubleheader was canceled. The twinbill was scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m., but the first pitch of the day was not thrown until approximately 5:15 p.m.

For the Falcons (18-10, 6-4 MAC), the loss snapped a four-game winning streak. BGSU had won five-straight MAC contests prior to Wednesday's setback.

BGSU took the lead on Payton Hamm's solo homer in the second inning, but that was one of just four hits on the day for the Orange and Brown.

The Broncos (14-19, 4-4 MAC) had only five hits in the contest, but strung three of those hits together in the fourth inning on a single, a run-scoring double and a three-run homer. Western tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.

Hamm and Ally Bezjak each had a hit and a walk for the Falcons. Three of BGSU's four hits went for extra bases, as Bezjak and Sophie Weber each doubled in the contest. Greta L'Esperance singled and stole two bases. L'Esperance had a total of five steals in the Falcons' two games in Kalamazoo.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Both starting pitchers, BGSU's Payton Gottshall and WMU's Reily Galloway, worked a one-two-three first inning. Galloway retired five consecutive batters to begin the game, before Payton Hamm drilled a ball to right for a second-inning homer that gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
• The Broncos got a hit in the home half of the second, but could not move the runner past first base.
• The top of the third inning saw Greta L'Esperance singled to center with one down, and she immediately stole second. Peyton Dolejs walked, and although Galloway struck out the next batter, the final pitch of that at-bat saw L'Esperance steal third. But, a foul pop ended the threat.
• The Broncos would strike in the bottom of the third. Lauren Porter walked with one out, and Jordyn Swinehart's two-out hit put runners at the corners. Galloway followed with a sharply-hit ball to the left side, which deflected off of the glove of a diving BG infielder and went into left for a run-scoring double. Then, Alyssa Kramer followed with a fly ball to right that just cleared the fence for a three-run homer.
• Hamm drew a one-out walk in the fourth, and after a fielder's-choice grounder produced the second out, Sophie Weber's pinch-hit double put two runners in scoring position. But, Galloway got out of the jam with a strikeout.
• The Broncos tacked on an unearned run in the sixth, and Galloway would allow only one hit over the final three innings, on an Ally Bezjak double in the seventh. Pinch-runner Marlie McNulty reached third on a Maycee Godbolt sacrifice bunt, but was stranded 60 feet from home.

STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• Three of BGSU's hits went for extra bases, as Hamm homered and Weber and Bezjak each doubled. Hamm and Bezjak reached base twice, as each drew a base on balls.
• Dolejs also drew a walk, while L'Esperance singled and stole two bases. L'Esperance was a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen-base attempts in BGSU's two games in Kalamazoo.
• Five different Broncos had one hit apiece, with the big blow coming off the bat of Kramer. She drove in three runs with her homer, while Galloway also had an RBI.
• Galloway picked up the win in the circle, allowing one run and four hits. She walked three batters and struck out 10.
• Gottshall allowed four runs and four hits in five innings of work. She walked two Broncos and struck out four. Sydney Stepp pitched the final inning, allowing an unearned run and one hit. Stepp struck out one batter.

UP NEXT
• Then, BG will be home this weekend, taking on Buffalo in a three-game series at Meserve Field. The teams are slated to play a Saturday (April 9) twinbill followed by a Sunday (April 10) single game. Saturday's first game begins at 1:00 p.m., with Sunday's contest set for a 12:00 p.m. start.

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.