Falcons Beat No. 5 Louisville For First Top 5 Win In Program History

Saturday, February 25

Louisville, Ky.

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

2-3

Louisville

5-1

Bowling Green

Louisville

Photo by: Mallory Hiser, BGSU Athletics

Falcons Beat No. 5 Louisville For First Top 5 Win In Program History

February 25, 2023 | Baseball

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

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team bested the No. 5 Louisville Cardinals on Saturday (Feb. 25) for the first win in program history over a Top 5 team in the nation. The high-scoring game saw a lull from the fifth to the seventh inning with Louisville leading 6-5, but a four-run eighth made the difference for the Falcons, capturing the win to move to 2-3 on the season and even the weekend series with Louisville.

Leighton Banjoff ignited the Bowling Green offense with a two-run home run in the third inning to close the gap to 5-3 after a second inning RBI single by Tyler Ross. The scoring continued for BGSU in the fourth with a two-RBI single by Kyle Gurney, tying the game at 5-5 before Louisville reclaimed the lead in the bottom half, 6-5, holding it through the seventh inning.

In the eighth, the Falcons loaded the bases after an initial out call was reversed. With the bases juiced, Nathan Archer singled to bring home the first run. Ross followed up by being hit by a pitch, bringing in another BGSU run. The rally continued with Justin Fugitt hitting into a fielder's choice to score Sam Seidel. The fourth run of the inning, and final of the game, came from Nathan Archer swiping home for his second stolen base of the year, clinching the 9-6 score.

On the mound, the Falcons once again received a scoreless group outing from the bullpen. Freshman Luke Krouse came on first, pitching a team-high 3.2 innings, giving up two hits and striking out a pair as well. Connar Penrod took over from there for 1.1 innings, giving up three hits while striking out three en route to earning his second win in as many appearances. Owen Recker came on in the ninth to shut down the game, recording his first save of the season and the second of his career.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Tyler Ross began the game with a leadoff single through the left side, but three outs followed to end the top of the first.
In the bottom half of the first, Louisville drew two walks before a three-run home run to push them ahead 3-0 after one.
The Falcons answered in the top of the second. Nathan Rose, Anthony Toma and Nathan Archer all drew walks to load the bases, setting up an RBI single by Ross to put BGSU on the board, 3-1.
The runs continued in the bottom of the second. Louisville began the inning with a single followed by a double to score their fourth run. A sac bunt moved the runner to third before a sacrifice fly brought the runner home, making it a 5-1 ball game after two.
Kyle Gurney began the third inning with a single to left field. Leighton Banjoff followed with a two-run blast to left field, the first BGSU home run of the season, to cut the lead to 5-3 Louisville.
The fourth inning for the Falcons started with a Ryan Johnston single, taking second on a wild pitch. Archer drew a walk before a pitching change then Ross walked to load the bases. Kyle Gurney singled to left center, scoring both Johnston and Archer to tie it at 5-5.
Louisville reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single to go up 6-5.
After scoreless innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh, the Falcons rallied for a four-run top of the eighth to move ahead 9-6. A review reversed a call that loaded the bases for the Falcons with no outs. A single from Archer brought home the first run before a hit by pitch against Ross brought home the second.
After a pitching change, Justin Fugitt hit into a fielder's choice that brought home another run for the Falcons, scoring Sam Seidel.
The final run of the game came on a steal of home by Archer, making it the 9-6 Falcons final.

STAT LEADERS

Luke Krouse: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 2 K
Connar Penrod: W, 1.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 3 K
Owen Recker: SV, 0 H, 0 R/ER
Kyle Gurney: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 R
Leighton Banjoff: 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 R
Tyler Ross: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Nathan Archer: 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 SB
Nathan Rose: 1-for-3, 2 R

FALCON STAT FACTS

The win marked the first win in program history over a Top 5 team. The last win against a ranked opponent was a win over No. 8 Notre Dame during the 2006 season.
With the win, the Falcons have now topped a Power 5 team in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2011-12. BGSU beat Michigan State on the road last season 12-3. In 2011, Bowling Green beat Ohio State 5-4 and then beat Michigan 2-1 in 2012, both on the road.
The win is the first against Louisville in program history through nine meetings.
For the fourth time through the team's first five games this season, the BGSU bullpen did not allow a run as a unit.
Connar Penrod claimed the victory on the mound for the Falcons. Penrod has now tallied the win in both of Bowling Green's victories so far this season. In two appearances, Penrod has tossed 3.2 innings, giving up just three hits while not allowing a run and striking out eight.
Owen Recker picked up the save, commanding the ninth for the Falcons on the mound. The save marked the first of the season for Recker and the second of his career.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Luke Krouse came on in relief for Bowling Green, hurling 3.2 scoreless innings for the Orange and Brown. Krouse now has 6.0 collegiate innings under his belt, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out four.
Belting a two-run home run in the top of the third, Leighton Banjoff hit not only his first home run as a BGSU Falcon, but the first home run of the season for the Orange and Brown.
Nathan Rose continued his five-game hitting streak to start the season. Through five games, Rose is batting .333 with three doubles and three RBI.
With two hits and two RBI in Saturday's game, Tyler Ross now has three hits and three RBI over the two games against Louisville.
Through two games against No. 5 Louisville, Bowling Green has outscored the Cardinals 10-8 and have outscored their opponents on the season 29-24.

QUOTE FROM COACH HALLOCK
"Today we made a little history. Tomorrow we want to make more. This is why you come to Bowling Green."

UP NEXT
The Falcons and Cardinals will conclude their weekend series on Sunday (Feb. 26) with another 1 p.m. first pitch at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' baseball team on social media
Twitter - @BGAthletics and @BGSU_Baseball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsu_baseball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcons Athletics'