Dees Dinger Helps Falcons Top TTU, 5-1

Sunday, March 5

Auburn, AL

1:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Tennessee Tech

Photo by: Grayson Belanger, Auburn Athletics

March 05, 2023 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Dees, Dolejs named to Jane B. Moore Memorial All-Tournament Team

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

AUBURN, Ala. – Makailah Dees hit the first homer of her collegiate career, helping the Bowling Green State University softball team to a 5-1 win over Tennessee Tech on Sunday afternoon (March 5).

The Falcons (7-12) fell to the host school, #19 Auburn, by an 8-0 final in Sunday's second game at the Jane B. Moore Memorial Tournament.

Dees and Peyton Dolejs each were named to the All-Tournament Team.

In the opener, Maycee Godbolt drove in four of the Falcons' five runs, while Scarlet Anderson picked up the complete-game win.

Anderson allowed just one run – which was unearned – and six hits in seven innings vs. the Golden Eagles. She came on in relief against Auburn, allowing just one earned run and three hits in three innings of work.

The second game saw Auburn benefit from six walks in the first two innings to take control early. The Tigers had only three hits en route to their first seven runs of the game.

BGSU v TENNESSEE TECH – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons jumped on TTU starter Gracelyn Woollen early, with two runs in the top of the first. Makailah Dees began the game with a single, and took second on a Delaney Davis sacrifice bunt. Peyton Dolejs followed with a double, and a Maycee Godbolt single to right-center scored both runners.
• Dees began the third inning with a home run to right, the first round-tripper of her collegiate career. Davis then tripled and scored on a Godbolt sac fly, giving the Falcons a 4-0 lead.
• Meanwhile, Scarlet Anderson kept the Golden Eagles hitless through three innings. She walked a batter in each of the first two innings, but did not let either runner get past second base.
• Anderson set down the Golden Eagles in order in the third, and the Falcons loaded the bases against reliever Callie Piper in the fourth, but could not add to the lead. That half-inning saw Marti Henkel and Wynnie Reid single before Anderson drew a one-out walk, but Piper got a force play at the plate and a popup to escape the jam.
• TTU threatened in the home fourth, with singles from Carmen Betts and Jordan Key sandwiched around a BG error on a ball off the bat of Nicolle Nysted. But, on Key's single, the Falcons got an out on the basepaths. Anderson then got a grounder to short for a force play at third, and recorded a strikeout to end the inning.
• The Golden Eagles got on the board with an unearned run in the sixth. Betts and Tristen head each singled, and a fielder's-choice grounder put runners at the corners with one out. A foul pop to third produced the second out, but a run would score on an error on that play.
• But, the Falcons got that run back in the seventh. Davis singled, took second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a Dolejs sac bunt and scored on a Godbolt grounder.
• In the bottom of the inning, Anderson worked around an Abby Shoulders one-out single. Shoulders got as far as third base, but was stranded there as an infield popup ended the game.

BGSU v AUBURN – HOW IT HAPPENED
• Auburn starter Maddie Penta entered Sunday's game having not allowed an earned run all season, and she set down all nine Falcons she faced in her three-inning stint. Meanwhile, the Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the first.
• Nelia Peralta earned a leadoff walk against BG starter Sydney Stepp, but centerfielder Peyton Dolejs charged in to grab a fly ball off the bat of Carlee McCondichie, then fired to first base to easily double up pinch-runner Kenadie Cooper. After Jessie Blaine drew a walk, however, Bri Ellis hit a line-drive homer to right-center to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
• KK McCrary led off the second inning with a single, and after a walk and a sac bunt moved the runners into second and third, Makailah Dees grabbed a fly ball in shallow left for the second out. But, two more bases on balls plated a run to give Auburn a 3-0 lead.
• Second baseman Hannah Hunt ranged to her right to grab a line drive off the bat of Blaine for an apparent inning-ending out, but an illegal pitch had been called. Blaine remained at the plate, and drew a walk to force home another run.
• Scarlet Anderson entered the circle, and after hitting Ellis with a pitch, she retired the next six batters she faced. Anderson needed just five pitches to get three outs in the third inning.
• In the fourth, however, a one-out error opened the door for two more Auburn runs, giving the hosts a 7-0 lead.
• Penta and Shelby Lowe combined to retire 13 Falcons in a row, but with one out in the fifth inning, Reagan Williamson drew a walk, and Sophie Weber singled to move pinch-runner Katie Hutter to second base. But, Lowe got a foul pop and a strikeout to end the inning.
• After getting a total of just three hits in the first four innings, the Tigers got a pair of hits in the fifth to walk it off. Abbey Smith had a one-out single, then stole second and took third on a grounder. Then, Denver Bryant's roller was hit in the perfect spot, getting between a pair of Falcon fielders as Smith came home.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons are idle until Wednesday, March 15, when BGSU heads to Ann Arbor for a game against Michigan. That contest is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will begin Mid-American Conference play with a three-game series at Toledo. The Falcons and Rockets will meet in the Glass City for a single game on Friday, March 17, and a doubleheader the following day.

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.