Falcons Get Strong Start From Schenk In Season Opener

Friday, February 17

Cookeville, Tenn.

4:00 PM EST

Bowling Green State University

0-1

Tennessee Tech

1-0

Bowling Green

Tennessee Tech

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

February 17, 2023 | Baseball

Box Score BGSU-TTU Box Score Support Our Student-Athletes

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Bowling Green State University baseball program began the 2023 season on the road against Tennessee Tech Friday (Feb. 17). Bowling Green's Gage Schenk went into a pitcher's duel with Golden Eagles' right-handed sophomore Peyton Calitri. Schenk tossed 5.2 innings for the Orange and Brown, giving up just one run on four hits with four strikeouts. The one Tennessee Tech run made the difference in the 1-0 final to move BGSU to 0-1 to start the season.

Luke Krouse came on in relief for the Falcons and continued Schenk's strong start. The left-handed true freshman threw 2.1 innings for BGSU giving up just one hit while striking out two in his collegiate debut. As a unit, Schenk and Krouse gave up a total of five hits while striking out six.

At the plate, the Falcons logged five hits with one each from Tyler Ross, Kyle Gurney, Justin Fugitt, Nathan Rose and Adam Fallon. Ross and Fallon each drew a walk at the plate while Fallon and Fugitt added a stolen base to their stat lines. Leighton Banjoff also reached after being hit by a pitch.

The Falcons and Golden Eagles will return to the diamond on Saturday (Feb. 17) for the second game of their three-game weekend series. Saturday's game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. EST start while Sunday will have a 2 p.m. EST first pitch.

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the top of the second, Justin Fugitt led off the inning with a single down the left field line for the first BGSU hit of the season. Fugitt stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but was unable to score before the end of the inning.
Tennessee Tech tallied the game's lone run in the bottom of the second. With runners on second and third the Golden Eagles knocked a sacrifice fly to right center to move the score to 1-0.
The Falcons' bats started off strong in the top of the fourth. Tyler Ross and Kyle Gurney each singled before Fugitt reached on a throwing error to load the bases. Tennessee Tech was able to get a fielder's choice out at home for the first out of the inning before a fly out, throw out at home double play to end the inning with the score still 1-0.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Tennessee Tech knocked a leadoff double, but Gage Schenk was able to get two fly outs and a strikeout looking to end the inning without any damage.
Tennessee Tech made a pitching change prior to the start of the top of the sixth. Ross welcomed the new arm by drawing a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch, but the Golden Eagles were able to work out of the inning with the 1-0 score still intact.
The Falcons made a pitching change in the sixth with freshman Luke Krouse taking over for Schenk with two down. In his first collegiate appearance, Krouse sent down the first three batters he faced and tossed 1.2 innings before allowing his first hit.
Bowling Green nearly rallied in the top of the ninth. Nathan Rose singled with one out followed by Leighton Banjoff being hit by a pitch to put two on for the Falcons. A strikeout and fielder's choice ended the offensive burst with a 1-0 final.

STAT LEADERS

Gage Schenk: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R/ER, 4 K
Luke Krouse: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Tyler Ross: 1-for-3, 1 BB
Adam Fallon: 1-for-2, 1 BB, 1 SB
Justin Fugitt: 1-for-3, 1 SB

FALCON STAT FACTS

Gage Schenk's 5.2 innings pitched is the longest start for a BGSU pitcher in the season opener since the 2018 season when Zac Carey tossed 5.2 innings against UAB, giving up three runs with three strikeouts in a 4-3 BGSU loss.
Luke Krouse is the first true freshman to appear on the mound for the Falcons in the season opener since 2011 when Chris Miller pitched 1.2 relief innings in a 12-1 loss to Western Kentucky.
The Falcons gave up just one run to Tennessee Tech, marking the fewest runs allowed in a season opener since 2016 when BGSU topped East Tennessee State 7-1.
The one run allowed is the fewest runs given up to Tennessee Tech over the course of the all-time series.

QUOTE FROM COACH HALLOCK
"Starting off with the positive, Gage Schenk led us off with a solid start. He found himself in some tough spots and pitched tougher than the situation to keep us in the game. Following him, Luke Krouse performed like a veteran throughout his outing. He also navigated around a little traffic and, like Schenk, took control of the situation for us to give us a chance to win.

We were able to generate offensive opportunities with some good scenarios early on for us. In some of those spots, we were good enough to extend an inning but in others we need to improve. We will be better at pushing runs across when it's our advantage to do so. Tomorrow is a great opportunity to get the series evened up and we will come ready to compete."

UP NEXT
The Falcons and Golden Eagles will continue their series on Saturday (Feb. 18) with a 3 p.m. EST first pitch. Bowling Green will toss senior right-handed pitcher Tyler Hays on the bump.

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