Saturday, May 21
Fort Collins, CO
10:30 AM
Bowling Green State University
33-19
7
vs
3
Stephen F. Austin
31-26
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bowling Green
0
1
0
0
5
0
1
7
14
1
Stephen F. Austin
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
3
9
0
Maycee Godbolt homered twice in Saturday's win over SFA
Photo by: Gracey Jarecke, KSU Athletics
Falcons Down SFA, 7-3, in NISC Opener
May 21, 2022 | Softball
Godbolt, Gottshall pace solid team effort in BGSU's first-ever national postseason win
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Bowling Green State University softball team got contributions from the entire lineup on Saturday (May 21), as the Falcons began national tournament play with a 7-3 win over Stephen F. Austin. The game, the opening contest of the National Invitational Softball Championshps, was held at TC Colorado Field.
The win was the first national postseason win in program history.
The Falcons (33-19) pounded out a season-high 14 hits against four SFA pitchers, while BGSU hurler Payton Gottshall added another school record to her collection. Gottshall became the school's career strikeouts leader in Saturday's win.
At the plate, eight of the nine batters in the lineup picked up at least one hit. Maycee Godbolt, who entered the game with two homers on the season, went 3-for-4 with a pair of round-trippers and four RBI.
Sophie Weber was a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, while Peyton Dolejs had a pair of hits in the win.
BGSU, seeded ninth in the 12-team, double-elimination tournament, erased a 2-1 deficit with a five-run fifth inning. Godbolt's three-run blast gave the Falcons a 4-2 lead, with Payton Hamm's two-out, two-run double putting the Orange and Brown ahead by four.
The eighth-seeded Ladyjacks (31-26) got a run back with a homer in the bottom of the fifth, but Godbolt's second bomb of the day restored that four-run BG advantage.
QUOTING COACH WILLIS
"It was a great team win over SFA to open the tournament. Gottshall threw well in the circle and got great support from her defense. Offensively, it was nice to see our hitters stay aggressive throughout the entire game and put pressure on the SFA bullpen."
NOTEWORTHY
• Payton Gottshall added yet another record to her lengthy list. Gottshall struck out SFA's Emily Berryhill in the second inning to become the BGSU career strikeouts leader. She moved past BGSU Hall-of-Famer Liz Vrabel (768 strikeouts from 2003-06).
• Gottshall had 10 strikeouts in Saturday's game, giving her a career total of 776.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons' offense threatened all game long. BGSU's leadoff batters reached base in six of the seven innings, and all six were via base hits.
• On a chilly morning in Colorado -- the temperature was 39 degrees at game time -- Greta L'Esperance began the contest with a bunt single against SFA starter Kassidy Wilbur, the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. L'Esperance quickly stole second base, and Reagan Williamson drew a two-out walk, but Wilbur escaped the jam with a strikeout.
• The Ladyjacks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first via an error, a single and a walk, but Gottshall struck out Hope Lusk to end the inning.
• BGSU broke on top in the second inning, as Lexi Carver led off with a single and came all the way around to score on a Sophie Weber double.
• For Gottshall, the first-inning strikeout of Lusk tied the school career record, and she whiffed Emily Berryhill in the second to become BGSU's all-time strikeout leader.
• BGSU loaded the bases in the third after Peyton Dolejs singled, Williamson walked and Maycee Godbolt had a hit. But, a Carver liner was hit in exactly the right spot, from an SFA standpoint. The hot shot was caught by third baseman Sydney Carithers for an inning-ending double play.
• Sydnee Hebert homered to lead off the bottom of the third, tying the score
at 1-1. Gotshall would respond by retiring the next five hitters.
• Weber singled to lead off the fourth, and Sarah Gonzalez sacrificed her to second, but the Falcons could not break the deadlock.
• The Ladyjacks, however, did push the go-ahead run across the plate in the bottom of the inning. Berryhill reached on a two-out infield single, and took third on a Gaby Garcia double. Then, Camryn Middlebrook beat out a slow roller for an infield single, with Berryhill crossing the plate to give SFA a 2-1 lead. BGSU rightfielder Payton Hamm made a diving catch to take a hit away from Mackenzie Bennett and end the inning. And, Hamm and the Falcons would strike back in the fifth.
• BGSU sent nine batters to the plate in that fifth frame, taking the lead for good. Dolejs led off with a single that chased Wilbur from the game. Bailey Sample greeted new pitcher Alexis Telford by beating out a bunt for a single, and Dolejs then tagged and took third on a fly ball to right-center.
• Godbolt stepped to the plate and drilled a no-doubt homer to left, giving the Orange and Brown a 4-2 lead. Telford got a strikeout, but Weber followed with her second double of the game, and took third on a Gonzalez base hit. After another SFA pitching change, Hamm came through, roping the first offering from Brooke Gainous to right for a two-out, two-run double.
• Dekotah Pool got a run back for the Ladyjacks with a one-out homer in the bottom of the inning, but Godbolt answered that run with another round-tripper to lead off the top of the seventh.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Gottshall worked around a one-out single by Pool, getting a three-pitch strikeout to begin the inning as well as another to end the game.
STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• BGSU pounded out a season-high 14 hits. The Falcons' previous season best was 12, set against Delaware (Feb. 25) and matched vs. Central Michigan (May 4).
• The Falcons' five-run fifth marked BGSU's biggest inning since a six-run fourth frame in a home win over Akron on April 24.
• Godbolt entered the game with totals of two homers and four RBI this season, but had two round-trippers and drove in four runs in Saturday's win. She now has six career homers.
• Weber led that 14-hit Falcon attack with a 4-for-4 day, the first four-hit game of her career. She had two doubles in a game for the first time in her BG career as well.
• Godbolt also set a career high in hits, going 3-for-4 in the win.
• Dolejs had a multiple-hit game, going 2-of-4, while Carver walked and singled. Hamm had a two-run double, with Gonzalez and Sample each adding a hit and a run. L'Esperance singled and Williamson walked twice in the win.
• Pool was 2-for-2 for the Ladyjacks, with Berryhill and Hebert each going 2-for-3.
• Gottshall picked up the win in the circle, allowing three runs and nine hits. She walked three and struck out 10.
• Telford, the second of four SFA pitchers, took the loss.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons remain in the winner's bracket, and BGSU will take on top-seeded Virginia at TC Colorado Field. That game is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. ET) on Sunday (May 22).
NISC RESULTS
Saturday, May 21
#9 Bowling Green 7, #8 Stephen F. Austin 3
#12 Kansas 4, #5 George Washington 3
#10 UC San Diego 7, #7 Rutgers 5
#6 North Alabama 18, #11 Tarleton State 15
Sunday, May 22
Bowling Green vs. #1 Virginia, 10:30 a.m.
Kansas vs. #4 Central Arkansas, 1:00
UCSD vs. #2 Baylor, 3:30
North Alabama vs. #3 UNLV, 6:00
(all times p.m. & Eastern unless noted)
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.
The win was the first national postseason win in program history.
The Falcons (33-19) pounded out a season-high 14 hits against four SFA pitchers, while BGSU hurler Payton Gottshall added another school record to her collection. Gottshall became the school's career strikeouts leader in Saturday's win.
At the plate, eight of the nine batters in the lineup picked up at least one hit. Maycee Godbolt, who entered the game with two homers on the season, went 3-for-4 with a pair of round-trippers and four RBI.
Sophie Weber was a perfect 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, while Peyton Dolejs had a pair of hits in the win.
BGSU, seeded ninth in the 12-team, double-elimination tournament, erased a 2-1 deficit with a five-run fifth inning. Godbolt's three-run blast gave the Falcons a 4-2 lead, with Payton Hamm's two-out, two-run double putting the Orange and Brown ahead by four.
The eighth-seeded Ladyjacks (31-26) got a run back with a homer in the bottom of the fifth, but Godbolt's second bomb of the day restored that four-run BG advantage.
QUOTING COACH WILLIS
"It was a great team win over SFA to open the tournament. Gottshall threw well in the circle and got great support from her defense. Offensively, it was nice to see our hitters stay aggressive throughout the entire game and put pressure on the SFA bullpen."
NOTEWORTHY
• Payton Gottshall added yet another record to her lengthy list. Gottshall struck out SFA's Emily Berryhill in the second inning to become the BGSU career strikeouts leader. She moved past BGSU Hall-of-Famer Liz Vrabel (768 strikeouts from 2003-06).
• Gottshall had 10 strikeouts in Saturday's game, giving her a career total of 776.
AND THERE IT IS‼️
— BGSU Softball (@BGSUSoftball) May 21, 2022
At 11:04 am ET (9:04 am MT), PAYTON GOTTSHALL has broken the BGSU record for career strikeouts!! 👀😍🐐
B2 | BGSU 1, SFA 0#AyZiggy | 🥎🧡🥎🧡🥎
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons' offense threatened all game long. BGSU's leadoff batters reached base in six of the seven innings, and all six were via base hits.
• On a chilly morning in Colorado -- the temperature was 39 degrees at game time -- Greta L'Esperance began the contest with a bunt single against SFA starter Kassidy Wilbur, the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year. L'Esperance quickly stole second base, and Reagan Williamson drew a two-out walk, but Wilbur escaped the jam with a strikeout.
• The Ladyjacks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first via an error, a single and a walk, but Gottshall struck out Hope Lusk to end the inning.
• BGSU broke on top in the second inning, as Lexi Carver led off with a single and came all the way around to score on a Sophie Weber double.
• For Gottshall, the first-inning strikeout of Lusk tied the school career record, and she whiffed Emily Berryhill in the second to become BGSU's all-time strikeout leader.
• BGSU loaded the bases in the third after Peyton Dolejs singled, Williamson walked and Maycee Godbolt had a hit. But, a Carver liner was hit in exactly the right spot, from an SFA standpoint. The hot shot was caught by third baseman Sydney Carithers for an inning-ending double play.
• Sydnee Hebert homered to lead off the bottom of the third, tying the score
at 1-1. Gotshall would respond by retiring the next five hitters.
• Weber singled to lead off the fourth, and Sarah Gonzalez sacrificed her to second, but the Falcons could not break the deadlock.
• The Ladyjacks, however, did push the go-ahead run across the plate in the bottom of the inning. Berryhill reached on a two-out infield single, and took third on a Gaby Garcia double. Then, Camryn Middlebrook beat out a slow roller for an infield single, with Berryhill crossing the plate to give SFA a 2-1 lead. BGSU rightfielder Payton Hamm made a diving catch to take a hit away from Mackenzie Bennett and end the inning. And, Hamm and the Falcons would strike back in the fifth.
• BGSU sent nine batters to the plate in that fifth frame, taking the lead for good. Dolejs led off with a single that chased Wilbur from the game. Bailey Sample greeted new pitcher Alexis Telford by beating out a bunt for a single, and Dolejs then tagged and took third on a fly ball to right-center.
• Godbolt stepped to the plate and drilled a no-doubt homer to left, giving the Orange and Brown a 4-2 lead. Telford got a strikeout, but Weber followed with her second double of the game, and took third on a Gonzalez base hit. After another SFA pitching change, Hamm came through, roping the first offering from Brooke Gainous to right for a two-out, two-run double.
• Dekotah Pool got a run back for the Ladyjacks with a one-out homer in the bottom of the inning, but Godbolt answered that run with another round-tripper to lead off the top of the seventh.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Gottshall worked around a one-out single by Pool, getting a three-pitch strikeout to begin the inning as well as another to end the game.
After 7, @BGSUSoftball takes a 7-3 win over @sfa_softball. The Falcons advance to play #1 seed Virginia tomorrow 5/22 at 8:30am. #NISC #Softball #ClimbToColorado pic.twitter.com/9u9UGSRlh4
— Postseason NISC (@WomensNISC) May 21, 2022
STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• BGSU pounded out a season-high 14 hits. The Falcons' previous season best was 12, set against Delaware (Feb. 25) and matched vs. Central Michigan (May 4).
• The Falcons' five-run fifth marked BGSU's biggest inning since a six-run fourth frame in a home win over Akron on April 24.
• Godbolt entered the game with totals of two homers and four RBI this season, but had two round-trippers and drove in four runs in Saturday's win. She now has six career homers.
• Weber led that 14-hit Falcon attack with a 4-for-4 day, the first four-hit game of her career. She had two doubles in a game for the first time in her BG career as well.
• Godbolt also set a career high in hits, going 3-for-4 in the win.
• Dolejs had a multiple-hit game, going 2-of-4, while Carver walked and singled. Hamm had a two-run double, with Gonzalez and Sample each adding a hit and a run. L'Esperance singled and Williamson walked twice in the win.
• Pool was 2-for-2 for the Ladyjacks, with Berryhill and Hebert each going 2-for-3.
• Gottshall picked up the win in the circle, allowing three runs and nine hits. She walked three and struck out 10.
• Telford, the second of four SFA pitchers, took the loss.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons remain in the winner's bracket, and BGSU will take on top-seeded Virginia at TC Colorado Field. That game is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. ET) on Sunday (May 22).
NISC RESULTS
Saturday, May 21
#9 Bowling Green 7, #8 Stephen F. Austin 3
#12 Kansas 4, #5 George Washington 3
#10 UC San Diego 7, #7 Rutgers 5
#6 North Alabama 18, #11 Tarleton State 15
Sunday, May 22
Bowling Green vs. #1 Virginia, 10:30 a.m.
Kansas vs. #4 Central Arkansas, 1:00
UCSD vs. #2 Baylor, 3:30
North Alabama vs. #3 UNLV, 6:00
(all times p.m. & Eastern unless noted)
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.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gottshall, Payton (26-12)
L: K. Wilbur (21-14)
Batting:
2B: Weber, Sophie 2 ; Hamm, Payton 1
HR: Godbolt, Maycee 2
RBI: Godbolt, Maycee 4 ; Weber, Sophie 1 ; Hamm, Payton 2
SH: Gonzalez, Sarah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dolejs, Peyton 1 ; Sample, Bailey 1 ; Godbolt, Maycee 2 ; Carver, Lexi 1 ; Weber, Sophie 1 ; Gonzalez, Sarah 1
SB: L'Esperance, Greta 1 ; Sample, Bailey 1
Batting:
2B: G. Garcia 1
HR: S. Hebert 1 ; D. Pool 1
RBI: Middlebrook 1 ; S. Hebert 1 ; D. Pool 1
Base Running:
RUNS: S. Hebert 1 ; D. Pool 1 ; E. Berryhill 1
HBP: G. Garcia 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
4
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/IF
/ SoftballUtil.
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/C
/ Softball
C
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