Virginia Too Much for BGSU on Sunday

Sunday, May 22

Fort Collins, CO

10:30 AM

Bowling Green State University

33-20

Virginia

28-24

Bowling Green

Virginia

Photo by: Morgan Holscher, BGSU Athletics

May 22, 2022 | Softball

Box Score BGSU-UVA Stats Updated NISC Bracket NISC Tournament Central support our student-athletes

Falcons fall to Cavaliers, 10-2; BG will face George Washington on Monday

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The University of Virginia took an early lead on Sunday morning (May 22), and the Cavaliers went on to a 10-2 win over the Bowling Green State University softball team. The game, part of the National Invitational Softball Championships, was held at TC Colorado Field.

Katie Goldberg homered twice for the Cavaliers, the number-one seed for the 12-team, double-elimination tournament. Goldberg hit a three-run shot in the first inning to give UVA (28-24) the lead, and her two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth gave the Cavaliers an eight-run lead and ended the contest.

The middle of the order did the damage for the Hoos, as the three-four-five hitters combined for seven hits and all 10 runs batted in.

Three of the Falcons' four hits on the day were doubles, including two-base hits by Sarah Gonzalez and Greta L'Esperance during a two-run fifth. But, Virginia hit a total of four homers en route to the win.

The Falcons (33-20), the ninth seed for the tournament, will face George Washington on Monday (May 23).

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons threatened, but did not score, in the top of the first inning. Greta L'Esperance began the game by reaching on an error by UVA pitcher Molly Grube. One out later, Bailey Sample's double put runners at second and third, but Grube bounced back to get a strikeout and a grounder to second that retired the side.
• In the bottom of the inning, Leah Boggs led off with a triple, and after Kailyn Jones drew a walk, Katie Goldberg followed with a drive to left that cleared the wall by inches. The three-run homer gave UVA the lead for good. BGSU starter Payton Gottshall struck out three of the next four batters to end the frame.
• The Cavaliers extended the lead in the third inning, as Sarah Coon homered off of Gottshall, and Tori Gilbert greeted reliever Sydney Stepp with a round-tripper for a 5-0 lead.
• Sample walked to lead off the fourth inning, ending a stretch of eight-straight batters retired by Grube. Sample took second on a failed pickoff attempt, but was stranded there.
• After scoring the first five runs of the game via the long ball, the Cavaliers plated three more via three singles and an error in the fourth frame. After a bunt single and an infield error put two runners aboard with one out, Goldberg singled to score a run, and Coon followed with a two-run single. Kiara Hurley entered the circle and walked a batter before getting back-to-back infield popups to end the inning.
• BGSU broke through in the fifth. Ally Bezjak led off with a pinch-hit single off of new pitcher Mackenzie Wooten, and Sarah Gonzalez belted a double over the leftfielder's head to score Lexi Carver from first. Gonzalez took third when the throw home was wild, and she would trot home on a L'Esperance double down the left-field line.
• But, UVA matched that two-run output in the bottom of the fifth. Hurley retired the first two batters, but after an infield error, Goldberg homered to left to give the Hoos an eight-run lead.

STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• Goldberg was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and six RBI, while Coon and Gilbert each went 2-for-3 with a homer. Coon drove in three runs and Gilbert one.
• Gonzalez was 1-of-2 for the Falcons, with an RBI double and a run scored. L'Esperance also had an RBI double, while Sample walked and doubled in three trips to the plate. Bezjak was 1-for-1 at the plate, with Carver scoring a run.
• Grube picked up the win with four innings of one-hit shutout ball. She walked one Falcon and struck out two.
• Gottshall, the first of three BG pitchers, suffered the loss to drop to 26-13 on the year.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons, as mentioned, will face George Washington in an elimination game. The teams are scheduled to play on Monday (May 23) at approx. 1:00 p.m. ET.

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
#1 Virginia 10, Bowling Green 2 (5 inn.)
#4 Central Arkansas 5, Kansas 4 (8 inn.)
#2 Baylor 10, UC San Diego 2 (6 inn.)
North Alabama vs. #3 UNLV, 6:00

Monday, May 23
Stephen F. Austin vs. Kansas, 10:30 a.m.
Bowling Green vs. George Washington, 1:00
Rutgers vs. UNLV/North Alabama loser, 3:30
Tarleton State vs. UC San Diego, 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.