Falcons Blast Multiple Opening Day Homers For First Time In 15 Years

Calendar

No Upcoming Events

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team began the 2024 campaign on Friday (Feb. 16) against Middle Tennessee. The Falcons offense came alive and blasted five home runs, plating eight runs in the first game of the season. However, the bats were equally alive for MTSU, logging 12 runs to take the final, 12-8. The two teams will return to the diamond on Saturday for the second game of the three-game weekend series.

Sam Seidel led the way for the Falcons, going 3-for-5 with a two-run home run. DJ Newman followed with a 2-for-2 day, including a home run knock of his own. Nathan Archer and Tyler Ross went yard for the Orange and Brown as well. In the ninth, Brady Birchmeier launched a three-run home run to challenge the Blue Raiders' lead, but BGSU came short of the deficit.

HOW IT HAPPENED

DJ Newman stepped into the batter's box for the Falcons to begin the season and drew a walk before stealing second for the first BGSU stolen base of the season. Newman wouldn't advance past second in the inning with MTSU working out of it without damage.
Transitioning to the rubber in the bottom half, Newman tallied his first strikeout of the season, sending the second batter he faced down on strikes. However, a two-out single through the left side followed by a triple off the center field wall brought the first MTSU run around to score.
The Blue Raiders followed the triple with another single, this one a high-chopper up the middle, to bring home their second run for a 2-0 lead through one inning played.
Middle Tennessee added to their tally in the second inning with back-to-back bases loaded walks to move their lead to 4-0.
The first BGSU hit came in the top of the third. Newman knocked an infield single before taking second on a throwing error. Sam Seidel followed with a blast to right field, a two-run home run to cut the lead down to 4-2.
MTSU added an unearned run in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 5-2.
Isaiah Seidel took over on the mound for the Falcons in the fourth, working a scoreless inning to keep the 5-2 score in place.
To start the fifth inning, Gavin Ganun drew a full-count walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Garrett Wright continued the rally with a single through the left side, his first collegiate hit, to put runners at the corners with one out.
Newman continued the approach, drawing a walk to load the bases and prompt a pitching change for MTSU. A double play after the change on the mound ended the inning.
A two-out rally in the bottom half of the fifth added three runs to MTSU's score for an 8-2 lead.
Nathan Archer answered quickly for BGSU. Leading off the top of the sixth, Archer belted a solo home run that landed on the MTSU football practice field beyond the right field wall.
After a BGSU pop up, Tyler Ross joined the home run party, hitting a long-ball over the right-center wall to cut the lead down to 8-4.
Jack Krause followed with a single to center field. Krause moved up to second on a balk before Ganun singled through the left side to put runners at the corners, but MTSU was able to get through the inning with the 8-4 score.
Middle Tennessee added a run in the bottom of the sixth to push the score to 9-4.
Newman continued a strong day at the plate with a home run to begin the seventh inning and cut the lead to 9-5.
The Blue Raiders recorded a two-RBI double in the bottom half of the seventh to make it an 11-5 lead. A solo shot in the eighth made it a 12-5 tally.
In the top of the ninth, TJ Takats pinch hit and knocked a single up the middle for his first collegiate hit. Seidel added a single before Brady Birchmeier crushed a three-run home run for his first collegiate hit, hitting the ball into MTSU's football stadium beyond the left field wall, for the 12-8 final.

STAT LEADERS

DJ Newman: 2-for-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB, 1 SB
Sam Seidel: 3-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Nathan Archer: 1-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R
Brady Birchmeier: 1-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
Tyler Ross: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI 1 R, 1BB
TJ Takats: 1-for-1, 1 R

FALCON STAT FACTS

As a team, the Falcons finished with five home runs in the game, all coming from different players. The last time BGSU had multiple home runs in a season opener was 2009 when Bowling Green ripped three round-trip knocks in a 16-8 loss to Western Carolina.
The eight runs for Bowling Green are the most in a season opener since scoring 22 against St. Louis to open the 2022 season.
Brady Birchmeier, Alex Laird and Garrett Wright all made their first collegiate starts to mark their BGSU debuts. TJ Takats joined the list as a pinch hitter for his debut as well.
Sam Seidel registered a team-high three hits for the Falcons, matching his career-high. He had three hits in a game once last season, coming on the road against Virginia Tech.
As a pitching staff, the Falcons logged 11 strikeouts from the bump. The mark is the most in an opener for BGSU since registering 14 to start the 2022 campaign.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will continue their series against the Blue Raiders with games on Saturday (Feb. 17) and Sunday (Feb. 18). Saturday's contest is scheduled for a 3 p.m. EST first pitch while Sunday is set for 2 p.m. EST.

Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons' baseball team on social media
Twitter - @BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_Baseball
Instagram - 'bgfalcons' and 'bgsu_baseball'
Facebook - 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube - 'Falcons Athletics'

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results