Cardinals Capture Weekend's Final Matchup at Meserve

Sunday, April 23

Bowling Green, OH

12:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

8-33, 1-20

Ball State

24-21, 14-9

Ball State

Bowling Green

Photo by: Luke Allen, BGSU Athletics

April 23, 2023 | Softball

Box Score

Dolejs triples for the second-straight game

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Ball State scored in each of the first three innings to build an early lead, as the Cardinals downed the Bowling Green State University softball team, 8-1, on Sunday afternoon (April 23). The Mid-American Conference matchup took place at Meserve Field.

Peyton Dolejs tripled for the second-straight game for the Falcons (8-33, 1-20 MAC). She had two of BGSU's three hits and scored the team's lone run on Sunday.

The Cardinals (24-21, 14-9 MAC), however, put the leadoff runner on base in each of the first three innings, and in five of the game's seven innings. And, BSU would score at least one run in each of those five frames.

NOTE OF THE DAY: TRIPLE YOUR FUN
• The Falcons had three triples, tying the school record, in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader vs. BSU. Peyton Dolejs had one of those three-base hits.
• Dolejs tripled again in Sunday's contest, for her fourth three-base hit of the year. She is the first Falcon with four triples in a season in 13 years (since Susan Sontag also had four in the 2010 campaign).
• No Falcon has had more than four triples in a season since Melissa West had five in 2009.

BGSU-BALL STATE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Cardinals, as mentioned, put the leadoff runner on base five times on Sunday, scoring at least one run in each of those innings.
• Three-straight Cards reached base to begin the game. Haley Wynn and Remington Ross each hit a flare, with Wynn's ball landing in shallow right and Ross's hit finding grass in shallow left. Wynn, who had stolen second, scored on the Ross single. Then, McKayla Timmons doubled to plate another run. Back-to-back fly balls to the outfield enabled Timmons to move up one base each time, and she tagged and scored on a Kaitlyn Mathews drive to right.
• Sophie Weber beat out a grounder to short with two outs in the Falcon first, and Reagan Williamson walked to put a pair aboard, Katie Hutter followed with a line drive to center, but Ros was able to track it down for the third out.
• Samantha-Jo Mata homered to lead off the second inning, and the Cards got another run in the third. Timmons led off with a single, took second on a grounder, and scored after a Mathews single, when Mathews was tagged out trying to advance to second.
• Peyton Dolejs singled in the third, but BSU starter Bridie Murphy then set down the next eight Falcons in a row.
• Meanwhile, the Cardinals added a run in the fifth inning, when Wynn singled, stole second, and wound up scoring on a groundout.
• In the sixth, Dolejs greeted BSU relief pitcher Angelina Russo by scorching a ball into the right-field corner for a leadoff triple, her second three-base hit in as many games. With one out, a Russo wild pitch enabled Dolejs to score easily. Weber drew a four-pitch walk, but Russo retired the next two Falcons.
• The visitors took advantage of a leadoff error in the seventh, with a Jazmyne Armendariz base hit plating two unearned runs. Russo was able to retire the Falcons in order in the seventh.
• Dolejs had two hits and scored the Falcons' lone run of the day. Weber singled and walked, with Williamson drawing a base on balls.
• Three BG pitchers saw action. The second of the three, Mackenzie Krafcik, allowed two runs and three hits in three innings. The third, Madi Young, pitched the final two innings and allowed two runs (both unearned).
• For Ball State, Murphy picked up the win with five innings of two-hit shutout work.
• Timmons was 3-for-4 and scored three runs for the visitors, as the top three players in the batting order scored seven of BSU's eight runs on the day.

UP NEXT
• BGSU will hit the road for a midweek #MACtion matchup in Mid Michigan. The Falcons will face Central Michigan in a three-game series, including a Tuesday (April 25) single game and a Wednesday (April 26) doubleheader. All three games are scheduled to be streamed via Chippewas All-Access.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will close the home schedule when Kent State comes to town next weekend. BGSU's remaining schedule is below.

REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
• Tuesday, April 25 – at Central Mich. – 3:00 p.m. – Chippewas All-Access
• Wednesday, April 26 – at Central Mich. – 1:00 p.m. (DH) – Chippewas All-Access
• Saturday, April 29 – KENT STATE – 1:00 p.m. (DH)
• Sunday, April 30 – KENT STATE – 12:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 5 – at Northern Illinois – 4:00 p.m. – NIU All-Access
• Saturday, May 6 – at Northern Illinois – 2:00 p.m. (DH) – NIU All-Access
HOME games at Meserve Field

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.