Bullpen Backs Up Bats For Falcons First Win

Sunday, February 19

Cookeville, Tenn.

2:00 PM EST

Bowling Green State University

1-2

Tennessee Tech

2-1

Bowling Green

Tennessee Tech

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

February 19, 2023 | Baseball

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By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Bowling Green State University baseball program carried over the hot bats from Saturday's game into a Sunday (Feb. 19) victory over Tennessee Tech with a 10-4 final. A six-run fourth inning created the advantage for the Falcons and BGSU was able to maintain the lead from there for the team' first win of the season. The victory moves Bowling Green to 1-2 after Opening Weekend with the team traveling to face nationally-ranked Louisville next weekend.

The scoring started in the second inning for the Falcons before a six-run fourth extended the lead. A Nathan Rose double in the fourth scored the first run before a fielding error on a Ryan Johnston bunt brought two more home. Nathan Archer then singled to score Jack Krause and force a pitching change with the score at 5-1. A wild pitch from the new arm added another tally to the total. The inning rounded out with a double by Kyle Gurney to score Tyler Ross, making it 7-1.

Sam Seidel pinch hit and drew a bases loaded walk in the fifth to push the lead to 8-1. Tennessee Tech added three runs in the bottom half of the fifth to cut into the lead, 8-4, but the Falcons soon added to their lead. In the seventh, Seidel logged an RBI single, scoring Johnston after he reached on a fielding error, stole second and took third on an out. The final run of the game for BGSU crossed in the top of the ninth. Johnston reached again, this time on a fielder's choice, to set up an RBI double by Nathan Archer to make the score the 10-4 final.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Falcons scored first, tallying a run in the top of the second. Leighton Banjoff began the inning with a single before advancing to second on a grounder and stealing third. With runners at the corners after a Nathan Rose walk, Jack Krause reached on an error that brought Banjoff home to put BGSU up 1-0.
Tennessee Tech answered with a run in the bottom half of the second to tie it up at 1-1.
The third inning was quiet before the Bowling Green bats erupted in the top of the fourth. Kyle Gurney walked and Adam Fallon was hit by a pitch to put two on. Rose ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Gurney.
The runs continued for the Falcons on a Ryan Johnston sacrifice bunt with the bases loaded after a Jack Krause walk. A fielding error on the bunt allowed both Fallon and Rose to score.
In the next at-bat, Nathan Archer singled to bring home Krause and force a pitching change with BGSU up 5-1.
With a new arm on the mound, Johnston was able to score on a wild pitch with Archer advancing to third with the score at 6-1 Falcons.
Tyler Ross reached on a fielder's choice that resulted in Archer being out. Justin Fugitt then singled to set up an RBI double by Gurney to push the Bowling Green lead to 7-1.
Tennessee Tech attempted to respond in the bottom of the fourth with runners at the corners with one out, but Peyton Wilson was able to get a double play to exit the inning with the 7-1 score intact.
The Falcons added another run in the fifth. Fallon started the inning with a walk and stole second before Rose walked and Johnston was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Freshman Sam Seidel pinch hit and drew another walk to bring Fallon home and increase the BGSU lead to 8-1.
The Golden Eagles added a trio of runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 8-4.
In the seventh, Ryan Johnston reached on a fielding error, stole second and advanced to third on an out, setting up an RBI single by Seidel to increase the BGSU advantage to 9-4.
BGSU added another run in the top of the ninth. Ryan Johnston reached on a fielder's choice to put a runner on for Nathan Archer who doubled to left center for the RBI, pushing the Bowling Green lead to the 10-4 final.

STAT LEADERS

Connar Penrod: W, 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 5 K
DJ Newman: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 1 K
Nathan Archer: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 2B
Leighton Banjoff: 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 SB
Sam Seidel: 1-for-2, 2 RBI, 1 SB
Nathan Rose: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 3 BB
Kyle Gurney: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B

FALCON STAT FACTS

The Falcons scored 19 runs over the course of the opening weekend series. A year ago, BGSU tallied 35 runs during the opening series. This marks the first time since 2007-08 that Bowling Green has recorded 15+ runs during the opening series in back-to-back seasons. In 2007, BGSU totaled 26 runs during the first series of the season. As for 2008, the team had 25.
As a pitching unit, the Falcons allowed 16 runs over the three games combined. That's the fewest allowed in an opening series since allowing 14 to open the 2018 season.
Leighton Banjoff continued a strong weekend at the plate with his second multi-hit game. Going 2-for-5 with a double in the Sunday finale, Banjoff finished the weekend 5-for-13 (.385) with two doubles and an RBI.
Connar Penrod, DJ Newman and Landon Willeman combined to toss 4.1 innings out of the bullpen. The trio allowed just two hits, no runs and struck out six.
Moving to the ninth spot in the batting order, Nathan Archer produced his first multi-hit game of the season, finishing with a pair of hits, two RBI and a double.

QUOTE FROM COACH HALLOCK
"Today was a good indicator of the character that this 2023 team has. We bounced back to get a win with a complete team effort from offense to defense and on the mound.

Offensively, freshman Sam Seidel came off the bench to have two great at bats to drive in runs. Leighton Banjoff had another good day. Then we got key spot performances from Nathan Archer, Ryan Johnston, Nathan Rose, Kyle Gurney and Jack Krause. Our ability to change momentum with our offense is going to be a major key to our success. Our base running was really good and we were opportunistic on taking the extra 90 feet all afternoon.

Defensively, Nathan Rose had as good of a game as I have seen here at Bowling Green on the infield. He was clutch with lights out plays at both second base and third base all day. Kyle Gurney was a warrior behind the plate and his grit shined through again today.

On the mound, Peyton Wilson set the tone and pitched out of some early jams. He competed with three pitches that he trusted and kept the ball down on a windy day when the ball was flying out in BP. Connar Penrod was probably the X-factor today. He came in and did what we saw him do in high school at Wauseon… compete at a really high level. We stuck with the NWOAL theme which meant DJ Newman picked up where Penrod left off and he was rock solid in his Falcon debut with two really good pitches to hold the lead. Then Landon Willeman slammed the door shut with his fastball. It's huge to have Landon back this year and he looked good in his season debut."

UP NEXT
The Falcons will stay on the road for their next series, facing nationally-ranked Louisville for a three-game series next weekend. The series is scheduled for Feb. 24-26. Friday's game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start with Saturday and Sunday both set for 1 p.m.

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