Falcons Fall to Flashes in Regular-Season Finale

Sunday, May 8

Kent, Ohio

12:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

30-17, 16-11

Kent State

20-27, 11-16

Bowling Green

Kent State

Photo by: Larry Clapper

May 08, 2022 | Softball

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By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

KENT, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University softball team saw the regular season come to an end on Sunday afternoon (May 8), as the Falcons dropped an 8-0 decision to Kent State University. The Mid-American Conference game was held at the Diamond at Dix.

The Golden Flashes (19-28, 10-17 MAC) broke on top with a pair of first-inning runs and never looked back.

Greta L'Esperance had two hits for the Falcons (30-17, 16-11 MAC), who finish the regular season in fourth place in the conference standings.

The Falcons' season will continue, as BGSU has qualified for the MAC Tournament. The Orange and Brown will meet top-seeded Miami on Thursday (May 12), in Oxford, Ohio, with game time to be announced.

Brooklyn Whitt, Madyson Cole and Chloe Cruz each had two hits for KSU on Sunday.

NOTEWORTHY
• Despite the loss on Sunday, the Falcons finished with their best winning percentage in MAC play in a decade. BGSU ended the regular-season with a 16-11 mark (.593), the program's highest conference winning percentage since the 2012 team went 15-7 (.681).

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Flashes got on the board with a pair of first-inning runs. Sydney Stepp retired the first two hitters of the game, but Brenna Brownfield singled to center and Madyson Cole followed with a two-run homer to left.
• KSU added a run in the second inning when Savannah Wing and Grace Saupe singled. Andrea Scali followed with a base hit that scored a run, before centerfielder Greta L'Esperance and shortstop Bailey Sample combined to throw a runner out at the plate on the play.
• Maycee Godbolt singled and stole second off of KSU pitcher Jessica LeBeau in the third inning. Godbolt took third on a L'Esperance base hit, with L'Esperance continuing to second on the play, but the side was retired on a fly ball to center.
• With a runner on third in the bottom of the inning, L'Esperance made a spectacular diving catch of a Brownfield drive to left-center, but the runner was able to tag and score.
• Chloe Cruz homered in the fourth, and a Cole double plated a run in the fifth. That inning ended when leftfielder Peyton Dolejs made a catch of an Emily Lippe drive with her back against the wall.
• BGSU threatened in the sixth, when L'Esperance led off with a double. Dolejs was denied a hit when leftfielder Cole grabbed her line drive, but L'Esperance took third on a LeBeau wild pitch. A popup to third, however, ended the inning.
• In the bottom of the inning, a Cruz base hit and a pair of hit batters loaded the bases with two outs, and Brooklyn Whitt's double plated a pair of teammates and gave the Flashes the win.

STATS, LEADERS & NOTES
• KSU had two-hit games from Whitt, Cole and Cruz. Cole and Cruz each homered, with Cole adding a double. Whitt had a double and a triple on the day.
• L'Esperance had two of BGSU's three hits, including a double, while Godbolt singled and had her first stolen base of the season.
• LeBeau, the third of three KSU pitchers picked up the win, allowing three hits and walking one in 3 2/3 innings. She struck out three hitters.
• Saupe and Scali combined to work 2 1/2 hitless innings.
• Stepp took the loss, allowing three runs and five hits. Kiara Hurley and Madi Young each saw time in the circle as well on Sunday.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons now prepare for the MAC Tournament, which will begin on Thursday (May 12) in Oxford, Ohio. BGSU, the fourth seed, will face top-seeded Miami on the RedHawks' home field in the first round of the three-day, double-elimination tourney, with starting times to be determined.

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.