Falcons Give No. 3 Florida All the Gators Want and More

Saturday, February 18

Gainesville, FL

10:30 AM

Bowling Green State University

3-5

Florida

7-0

Bowling Green

Florida

Ally Bezjak had 2 hits & 3 RBI against No. 3 Florida on Saturday

Photo by: Chad Huffman, BGSU Athletics

February 18, 2023 | Softball

Box Score

BGSU twice rallies from multi-run deficits before ultimately falling, 10-7

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Bowling Green State University softball team gave the No. 3-ranked University of Florida everything the Gators wanted and more on Saturday (Feb. 18). The Falcons twice rallied from multiple-run deficits, and BGSU took the lead in the fifth inning, but the hosts ultimately came away with a 10-7 win.

The game was part of day-two action at the T-Mobile Tournament. The three-day event is taking place at UF's Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

The Falcons (3-5) pounded out 12 hits against three Florida pitchers in the contest, rallying from an early deficit with a four-run third inning that briefly tied the score.

The Gators responded with two runs in the bottom of the third to retake the lead, but BGSU pushed three runs across the board in the fifth inning to go ahead by a 7-6 score. It marked the first time Florida had trailed this season.

But, the nationally-ranked hosts countered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, then added a run in the sixth for the final margin.

Hannah Davies battled all day long in the circle, and Ellie Price made her BGSU debut, getting the final three outs.

At the plate, no fewer than four Falcons had multi-hit games, as Sophie Weber went 2-for-3 and Ally Bezjak, Peyton Dolejs and Maycee Godbolt all were 2-for-4. Weber scored two runs, while Bezjak had three RBI and Regan Williamson two.

NOTE OF THE DAY
• The Gators opened the day with a 6-0 record on the young season, and Florida had outscored opponents, 74-5, in those six games. BGSU outscored those six opponents combined.
• BGSU is the first team this season to force Florida to play a seven-inning game, and the Falcons were the first team to take the lead against the Gators in 2023.

ALSO NOTEWORTHY
• The Falcons hit .364 in the game, and BGSU batted .462 (6-of-13) with two outs and .563 (9-for-16) with runners on bases.
• BG also hit .615 (8-for-13) with runners in scoring position against the Gators, and the Falcons were 4-for-5 (.800) with the bases loaded in Saturday's game.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Gators, as mentioned, opened the season with six-straight run-rule wins, and UF scored two runs in each of the first three innings on Saturday.
• In the top of the first, Sophie Weber singled against UF starter Olivia Gigante, then advanced to second on a passed ball, but she was stranded there.
• Hannah Davies retired the first batter in the bottom of the inning, but three-straight singles resulted in a run, and after a walk to Gigante, a fielder's choice enabled a second run to score. UF reloaded the bases, but Davies got an inning-ending popup to Hannah Hunt at second base.
• The second inning saw Skylar Wallace triple to score Kendra Falby, who had singled, and Wallace later scored on a sacrifice fly.
• Trailing, 4-0, BGSU proceeded to send 10 batters to the plate in the third inning, tying the game. The Falcons had six hits in that inning alone.
• Hunt led off with a single, and one out later, Makailah Dees singled to put runners at the corners. Gigante got a grounder back to the circle, firing to first for the second out. Then, however, the next five BG batters reached base.
• Weber walked to load the bases, and Reagan Williamson singled to score Hunt and Dees, cutting Florida's lead in half. Maycee Godbolt's single reloaded the bases, and Peyton Dolejs followed with a single that scored Weber. Then, Ally Bejzak's base hit up the middle plated Williamson with the tying run. Hunt followed with a line drive, but the ball was hit directly at the third baseman for the final out.
• The Gators responded with two more runs in the bottom of the third, as Avery Goelz had an RBI double and then scored on a Katie Kistler single.
• BG went in order in the fourth, but Davies held the Gators off the scoreboard that inning as well. Then, the Falcons took the lead.
• Weber singled to begin the fifth inning against relief pitcher Samantha Bender. and one-out hits by Godbolt and Dolejs loaded the bases. Then, Bezjak singled to plate both Weber and Godbolt, tying the game.
• The Gators made a pitching change, bringing in All-American Elizabeth Hightower, and she got a fly ball for the second out. But, Wynnie Reid smacked the first pitch she saw down the left-field line, with Dolejs coming around to score and give the Orange and Brown a 7-6 lead. Dees battled Hightower through a nine-pitch at bat, fouling off five of those pitches before Hightower could get the third out.
• In the bottom of the fifth, though, the Gators took the lead for good. A one-out single and back-to-back two-out walks loaded the bases for another All-American, Charla Echols, and Echols came through with a bases-clearing double.
• The Gators added an insurance run in the sixth inning on a walk, a stolen base and a single. Meanwhile, Hightower retired the Falcons in order in both the sixth and seventh frames to pick up the win in relief.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons conclude action in the T-Mobile Tournament on Sunday (Feb. 19) morning, taking on UConn in a 9:00 a.m. start.
• Then, BGSU will prepare for next weekend's UE Softball Invitational II, hosted by Evansville. The Falcons are slated to play five games in that tourney, beginning with Friday (Feb. 24) matchups vs. Purdue Fort Wayne and St. Thomas.

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.