BGSU's Offensive Outburst Overtakes CMU For Friday Victory

Friday, March 31

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

10-13, 5-5

Central Michigan

13-11, 4-3

BGSU

Central Michigan

Photo by: Chad Huffman, BGSU Athletics

March 31, 2023 | Baseball

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

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team began the weekend series against the Central Michigan Chippewas with a 12-3 victory on Friday (March 31) to give the Falcons their seventh win in the last eight games. After three scoreless innings to start, Central Michigan tallied the first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, but the Falcons quickly responded with a pair of runs in top of the fifth to take the lead and never looked back. The Orange and Brown hung a crooked number in each inning from the fifth on, going on to score two in the sixth, three in the seventh, two in the eighth and closing out the offensive onslaught with three in the ninth to secure the 12-3 win. The win brings BGSU's MAC record to .500 at 5-5 heading into April while being 10-13 on the season.

Gage Schenk got the start for the Falcons, striking out five over five innings on his way to the win on the mound. At the plate, Kyle Gurney led the way, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Leighton Banjoff knocked a double and crossed home a team-high three times while Nathan Rose added three RBI and a double of his own.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first three innings of the game were scoreless between the Falcons and the Chippewas before the first run scored in the bottom of the fourth on a CMU RBI double.
Bowling Green's bats came alive in the next half inning. Gavin Ganun began the top of the fifth with a single to right field. Leighton Banjoff followed by drawing a walk with both runners advancing on a sacrifice bunt by Ryan Johnston.
With Banjoff on second and Ganun on third and two outs, Kyle Gurney delivered a two-RBI single through the left side, scoring both to give BGSU a 2-1 lead.
The Falcons added to their tally in the sixth. With two outs, DJ Newman drew a walk before stealing second to set up an RBI single for Ganun.
Leighton Banjoff continued the two-out rally with a double to left field, bringing home Ganun and increasing the Bowling Green advantage to 4-1.
Central Michigan scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 4-2 BGSU.
The Orange and Brown quickly responded. Sam Seidel singled to begin the seventh inning and stole second before Gurney walked. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and then scored on a Nathan Rose single up the middle to push the Falcons' lead to 6-2 with no outs in the top of the seventh.
Bowling Green added to their lead in the inning. With runners at the corners, an error by the catcher allowed Tyler Ross to score, making it a 7-2 tally.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Central Michigan added another run on a sacrifice fly for a 7-3 score.
Once again, the Falcons responded. Banjoff walked to begin the eighth inning. After two outs were recorded, Banjoff stole second and then scored on a base hit by Gurney.
Rose followed with an RBI double to left center, trading places with Gurney to increase the BGSU lead to 9-3.
In the ninth inning, Adam Fallon drew a walk to start the top half. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt allowed him to move up to second before Banjoff was hit by a pitch to put two on for the Falcons. A wild pitch advanced both runners, setting up an RBI single to left by Johnston.
During the next at-bat, a pass ball resulted in Banjoff scoring. Gurney continued the rally with an RBI single up the middle to bring home Johnston and give the Falcons a 12-3 advantage.

STAT LEADERS

Gage Schenk: W, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 5 K
Kyle Gurney: 3-for-4, 4 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB
Nathan Rose: 2-for-6, 1 2B, 3 RBI
Gavin Ganun: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
Leighton Banjoff: 1-for-2, 3 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB
Ryan Johnston: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R
Sam Seidel: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB

FALCON STAT FACTS

Of the Falcons' 12 runs, seven crossed home plate when two outs had been recorded in the inning.
The win gives Bowling Green victories in seven of their last eight games, moving the team's record to 10-13 on the season and 5-5 within MAC play heading into April.
The win snaps a seven-game losing streak against the Chippewas for BGSU in the all-time series and is Bowling Green's first win in the series since April 10, 2021.
Picking up the win on the mound, Gage Schenk has now logged a win in two straight starts. The Falcons have also won three of the last four games when Schenk gets the start.
With his RBI single in the fifth inning, Kyle Gurney extended his hitting streak to nine games. Gurney ended the day 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. During his streak, Gurney is batting .500 (16-for-32) with 11 walks drawn, nine runs scored and nine RBI.
Logging a two-RBI single in the seventh inning, Nathan Rose continued his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 11 games. Over the seven games, Rose is hitting .382 (13-for-34) with 16 RBI and three doubles.
Nathan Archer went 1-for-4 in the game to further his hitting streak to six games and his on-base streak to eight.
Recording a hit and a walk, Sam Seidel has now reached base in 15 of the last 16 games and in 17 of the 20 games he's appeared in this season.
Gavin Ganun had his third multiple-hit game over his last six appearances, going 2-for-4. All of Ganun's hits have come across three games. In those games, he's 7-for-11 (.636) with five RBI. On the year, Ganun is batting .292 (7-for-24) with five RBI and five runs scored.
Leighton Banjoff scored a team-high three times in the game. After going hitless in 20 straight at-bats, Banjoff has found his swing again with hits in two of the last three games. Over the three games, he's also drawn five walks and scored four times.
Paired with the win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Tuesday (March 28) this marks the first time this season BGSU has won back-to-back road games.

UP NEXT
The Falcons and Chippewas will continue the weekend series on Saturday (April 1) with an 11 a.m. first pitch. The series is set to conclude on Sunday (April 2) at 2 p.m.

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