BGSU Pitching Locks Up Nationally-Ranked Louisville In Close Contest

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team went down to the wire against No. 5 Louisville on Friday (Feb. 24) at Jim Patterson Stadium. Gage Schenk put together another strong start for the Falcons, giving up just two runs over the six-plus innings of work. BGSU tallied their lone run of the game in the fifth, but a seventh inning tally made the difference for Louisville in a 2-1 final as the Falcons held the Cardinals to their lowest run total of the season.

The game began with a close pitcher's duel, playing the first three innings in less than 35 minutes, setting the tone for a game that lasted less than two hours. Gage Schenk allowed just one run on one hit through the first three innings. The bottom half of the third saw Schenk tally two strikeouts with an impressive defensive play by Tyler Ross on a bunt, completed with a pick at first base by Leighton Banjoff.

The offense for the Falcons began to find their footing in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Justin Fugitt reached on a bunt hit, stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error before the end of the inning. Schenk continued his dominance with one-two-three innings in the fourth and the fifth. In the top of the sixth, Bowling Green evened up the score. Adam Fallon singled up the middle with one out and advanced to third on a pickoff attempt throwing error. That set up an RBI single for Ross, chopping a base hit over the shortstop to bring the score to 1-1.

Just one more run was scored in the game, being the difference. A double in the bottom of the seventh set up an RBI single for Louisville, pushing them in front for the eventual 2-1 final. The loss moves BGSU to 1-3 on the season with two more games this weekend against the Cardinals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Louisville tallied the first run of the game on a solo home run with two out in the bottom of the first, making it 1-0 after one.
The Falcons had their first offensive action of the game in the top of the second. Nathan Rose ripped a double to the left field wall, but the inning ended before BGSU could even the score.
With two out in the top of the fourth, Justin Fugitt laid down a bunt single to reach. He stole second before advancing to third on an errant throw, but that's where his trip around the bases ended with the score stuck at 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the sixth, Adam Fallon sent a line drive up the middle for a single. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed Fallon to take both second and third before scoring on a Tyler Ross single over the shortstop, knotting it up at 1-1.
Louisville added a run in the bottom of the seventh. Schenk exited after the first batter of the inning, handing the ball to Rigo Ramos with a runner on second. Ramos recorded an out, but a single through the right side resulted in the second Louisville run of the game, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead after seven.
In the top of the eighth, Anthony Toma pinch hit with one out and reached on a fielding error. Mason Montgomery came in to run for Toma in the midst of the lone Louisville pitching change of the game.

STAT LEADERS

Gage Schenk: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, 4 K
Rigo Ramos: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 1 K
Tyler Ross: 1-for-4, 1 RBI
Adam Fallon: 1-for-4, 1 R
Nathan Rose: 1-for-3, 1 2B
Justin Fugitt: 1-for-3

FALCON STAT FACTS

The Falcons held Louisville to just two runs, the lowest run total for the Cardinals so far this season. The previous low was five against Bucknell on Sunday (Feb. 19).
The game marked the first start against a Power 5 opponent for Schenk and just his second appearance against a Power 5 team. He came in against Purdue in relief during his freshman season.
Through two starts this season, Schenk has pitched 11.2 innings, giving up just three runs on six hits while logging eight strikeouts.
With his double in the second inning, Nathan Rose now has a double in three straight games for the Orange and Brown.
Laying down a bunt single in the fourth inning, Justin Fugitt continued his four-game hitting streak to start the season.
The RBI for Tyler Ross was his first of the season.

QUOTE FROM COACH HALLOCK
"This series is far from over. We will be back tomorrow ready to go."

UP NEXT
The Falcons and Cardinals will continue their weekend series on Saturday (Feb. 25) with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Jim Patterson Stadium.

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