BGSU To Host Ball State In Saturday Doubleheader, Single-Game Sunday

Saturday, April 29

Bowling Green, Ohio

11:00 AM

Bowling Green State University

Ball State

Photo by: Morgan Holscher, BGSU Athletics

BGSU To Host Ball State In Saturday Doubleheader, Single-Game Sunday

April 27, 2023 | Baseball

Live Stats Support Our Student-Athletes

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team will host the Ball State Cardinals this weekend for a three-game series at Steller Field. Due to schedule changes in preparation for weather, the Falcons and Cardinals are currently scheduled for a doubleheader on Saturday (April 29) beginning at 11 a.m. The second game of the doubleheader will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. The third game of the series is set for Sunday (April 30) at 1 p.m. Prior to Sunday's game, BGSU will be recognizing the team's players graduating this spring and summer. Fans are also advised to account for commencement traffic when making their way to Steller Field for Saturday's game.

Current Weekend Schedule
Saturday, April 29 | 11 a.m.
Saturday, April 29 | Approx. 30 minutes after game one
Sunday, April 30 | 1 p.m. | Graduation Day

Scouting Ball State
Ball State is coming off a 9-8 midweek loss to Indiana, snapping a three-game winning streak for the Cardinals after sweeping Northern Illinois last weekend. The series win over NIU ended a six-game losing streak for BSU, giving them seven losses in their last 10. As for the season, Ball State holds a 26-14 overall record with a 13-5 standing within the Mid-American Conference. They are paced at the plate by Ryan Peltier, batting .398 with 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 44 RBI, all stats that lead the team.

Against The Cardinals All Time
The Falcons and Cardinals have met 133 times previously in program history, dating back to the 1947 campaign. When playing in Bowling Green, the Falcons hold the advantage with a record of 33-22-1, but the all-time series leans slightly to Ball State at 68-63-2. Last season, Ball State took the series in Muncie. As for the last time the series was played in Bowling Green, being in the 2021 season, the Falcons won one of the three games.

What To Watch For

The last time BGSU topped Ball State was an 8-5 final at home on May 2, 2021.
The last series win for Bowling Green over the Cardinals came during the 2016 season, winning two of three on the road.
The last time the Falcons won a home series against Ball State also marks the last BGSU sweep over the Cardinals, topping BSU in three straight during the 2009 season.

Falcon Facts To Follow

As a team, the Falcons are currently 38th in the nation for sacrifice bunts with a total of 24, which ranks second in the MAC behind only Kent State.
Bowling Green is averaging 1.84 stolen bases per game, which ranks 35th in the nation. On the season, BGSU has swiped 69 bases, tied for 43rd in the country.
The pitching staff for the Falcons has allowed a combined 157 walks, which is tied for the second-fewest in the conference with Ohio. Only Central Michigan has fewer with 153.
Gage Schenk enters the weekend needing three more strikeouts to add his name to the BGSU record book for career strikeouts. Schenk has tallied 174 and needs 177 to tie Burke Badenhop for 10th all-time in program history.
Schenk is currently third in the MAC for opposing batting average among qualified pitchers with a mark of .223.
Nathan Archer is currently tied for second in the nation for sacrifice flies with seven. Archer trails only Saint Peter's Johnathan Behm for the top spot. Behm has recorded nine this season. Archer is also in the midst of a 10-game on-base streak for the Falcons.
Sam Seidel entered the Top 50 in the nation for sacrifice bunts per game. Seidel has recorded six this season for an average of 0.18 per game which is tied for 46th in the nation.
DJ Newman has put together a five-game hitting streak and an eight-game on-base streak. During the on-base streak, Newman is batting .467 (14-for-30) with 11 runs scored, nine walks drawn, four RBI, three doubles, two stolen bases and a home run.
Newman's hot streak has pushed him up to fourth in the MAC for on-base percentage (.468) and ninth in batting average (.355).
Hitting his second home run of the season on Wednesday (April 28), Tyler Ross extended his on-base streak to 10 games for the Orange and Brown.
Nathan Rose added to his doubles total against Toledo, now at 14 which is tied for fourth in the MAC. Rose needs one more to set a new career-high for doubles in a season. If Rose can reach 16, he'll enter the BGSU record book for doubles in a season, tied for 10th.
Leighton Banjoff is currently on a six-game on-base streak. Over the streak, Banjoff has drawn nine walks and has been hit by a pitch twice.

Last Time Out
The Falcons began the Battle of I-75 on Wednesday (April 28) with a non-conference game at Scott Park. An offensive showdown saw a total of 19 runs scored in the game. The Falcons jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the battle ensued with the two teams trading leads. A three-run top of the seventh pushed the Falcons out in front, but a six-run response in the bottom half made the difference in the eventual 12-7 final.

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'