Broncos Take the Series Opener, 4-2, at Meserve

Tuesday, March 28

Bowling Green, OH

3:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

8-19, 1-6

Western Michigan

7-12, 1-0

Western Michigan

Bowling Green

Reagan Williamson v Ohio State - fall 2022

Reagan Williamson reached base three times in Tuesday's game vs. WMU

Photo by: Daniel Carlson, BGSU Athletics

March 28, 2023 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Teams will play a Wednesday double-dip, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Western Michigan University jumped on top early, and managed to keep the Bowling Green State University softball team at arm's length for the rest of the afternoon on Tuesday (March 28), picking up a 4-2 win in Mid-American Conference action at Meserve Field.

The Broncos (7-12, 1-0 MAC) scored a pair of first-inning runs to take the lead for good. The Falcons (8-19, 1-6 MAC) twice cut the WMU lead in half, but each time, the visitors answered.

Payton Kelly doubled and homered for the Broncos, while Haley Boxwell also had a homer in Tuesday's contest. For the Falcons, Sophie Weber scored BGSU's first run and drove in the team's second run.

BGSU WMU – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Broncos took an early lead in the first inning, via four hits and a BGSU error. Payton Kelly's one-out double put runners on second and third, before Courtney Farrish singled to score both runs. An error allowed another runner to reach, but the BG defense would get the final two outs of the inning on the basepaths.
• And, BGSU got a run back in the bottom of the first. Sophie Weber reached when her drive to right field was misplayed for a two-base error, and Maycee Godbolt immediately singled through the right side of the Bronco infield to score Weber. Reagan Williamson drew a four-pitch walk against WMU starter Autumn Godwin, but the Bronco pitcher was able to induce an inning-ending ground ball.
• Western looked to add to the lead in the third inning with a two-out rally. A Taylor Wolfe single was followed by an Addison Hudson walk, and Alyssa Kramer then reached on an error. But, on the latter play, Wolfe rounded third and was caught in a rundown, with third baseman Weber applying the tag to end the half-inning.
• Kelly led off the third with a homer to left, and Farris followed with a single, but BG starter Hannah Davies set down the next three hitters, including two by strikeout. In fact, after that Farrish single, Davies would allow just three more hits the rest of the way.
• BGSU again cut into the lead in the fifth inning. Wynnie Reid led off with a single up the middle, and took second on a wild pitch. Godwin struck out the next batter, and right fielder Wolfe made a diving catch to rob Dolejs of a hit – for the second time in as many Dolejs at-bats. But, Weber followed with a drive to the gap in left-center to plate Reid.
• Rissa Bajusz replaced Godwin in the circle, and after uncorking a wild pitch that allowed Weber to take third, the Bronco reliever got a fly ball to right that ended the inning.
• And, Haley Boxwell restored Western's two-run lead with a one-out homer in the sixth. Davies responded by striking out Wolfe, then getting Hudson to hit a ball back to the circle.
• But, BGSU's only baserunner over the last two innings came on a Williamson walk to begin the sixth, and Bajusz then retired six consecutive hitters, including five by strikeout.

Gallery: (3-28-2023) 032823 sb v WMU - Luke Allen

Gallery: (3-28-2023) 032823 v WMU - Chad Huffman

STATS, NOTES AND NUMBERS
• Four different Falcons had one hit apiece on Tuesday. Sophie Weber had an RBI double and also scored a run, while Maycee Godbolt had the single that plated Weber.
• Reagan Williamson reached base three times, going 1-for-1 with a pair of walks, while Wynnie Reid walked, singled and scored.
• Peyton Dolejs twice was robbed of hits when line drives off of her bat were caught in right field.
• The Broncos got two-hit games from Payton Kelly, Courtney Farrish and Taylor Wolfe.
• In the circle, Autumn Godwin picked up the win for the visitors, allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits before leaving with two outs in the fifth. Rissa Bajusz pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for the Broncos to earn the save.
• Hannah Davies fired a complete game for the Falcons, allowing 10 hits while walking two batters and striking out six.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons and Broncos are slated to wrap up their midweek series with a Wednesday (March 29) doubleheader. Due to the weather forecast, the first game of the twinbill will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Meserve Field.
• Then, the Falcons head to Western New York this weekend, for a three-game series vs. Buffalo. BGSU will battle the Bulls in a Saturday (April 1) doubleheader, beginning at 1:00 p.m., followed by a Sunday (April 2) single game starting at noon.

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.