Falcons Fall to WIU in Final Action of Season's Opening Weekend

Sunday, February 12

Rosemont, IL

10:00 AM

Bowling Green State University

2-3

Western Illinois

3-1

Western Illinois

Bowling Green

Hannah Davies gave the Falcons 6 2/3 innings of solid relief work on Sunday

Photo by: Evansville Athletics

February 12, 2023 | Softball

Box Score

Williamson goes 2-for-3, Davies impresses in relief in Sunday's setback

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Savannah Rodriguez led Western Illinois University, both at the plate and in the circle, as the Leathernecks picked up a 3-0 victory over the Bowling Green State University softball team Sunday morning (Feb. 12). The game was the Falcons' final contest at the DePaul Dome Tournament.

Rodriguez pitched a shutout and hit a two-run homer to pace WIU (3-1) in the victory. She allowed just three hits while striking out 11 in her complete-game win.

Hannah Davies gave the Falcons (2-3) a solid relief effort in the circle. She entered the game with one out in the first inning, and allowed just one run and six hits the rest of the way.

Reagan Williamson had two of BGSU's three hits, while Wynnie Reid had a triple in two at-bats on Sunday.

NOTE OF THE DAY
• Hannah Davies pitched a total of 24 innings last season, going 2-1 with a 5.54 ERA. In the first weekend of 2023, Davies appeared in three of the Falcons' five games, pitching 16 2/3 innings.
• Davies had an ERA of just 1.68 over the weekend, striking out 13 batters and allowing opponents to hit just .169 against her.

ALSO NOTEWORTHY
• Falcon pitchers have given up just 19 hits in 33 innings through the first five games of the season. BGSU is allowing opponents to hit just .161 so far in 2023.

WESTERN ILLINOIS GAME – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Leathernecks broke on top early against BGSU starter Madi Young. Kaylee Ketcherside drew a walk, and after a ground ball produced the first out, Savannah Rodriguez homered to give WIU a 2-0 lead. One batter later, Hannah Davies entered the circle for the Falcons. She struck out the first batter she faced, Jorja Hudson, on three pitches en route to retiring the side.
• Rodriguez retired the first eight Falcons she faced, before Wynnie Reid tripled down the right-field line in the third inning. But, Rodriguez was able to get a popup for out number three.
• Reagan Williamson led off the Falcon fifth with a base hit up the middle, but pinch-runner Ashley Chevalier was stranded on first as Rodriguez set down the next three hitters.
• BG did not get another baserunner until another Williamson single, this time with two down in the seventh. But, Rodriguez struck out the next Falcon hitter to earn the complete-game shutout win.
• WIU's final run came in the sixth, on a Gabriela Drager leadoff double and a single by Cynthia Hull.
• Rodriguez improved to 3-0 on the young season, allowing just three hits and striking out 11 without walking a batter.
• Davies fired 6 2/3 innings of one-run, six-hit relief. She threw 66 of her 104 pitches for strikes, walking two and whiffing six. After allowing a single and a walk in the second, she retired the side in order in both the third and fourth frames.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons head to Gainesville, Fla., next weekend, to play four games in the T-Mobile Tournament, hosted by the University of Florida. BGSU will play two games vs. Connecticut, as well as one each vs. Delaware State and the host Gators.
• BG opens play in that tournament with a Friday-morning (Feb. 17) game vs. Delaware State, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

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.