BGSU’s Comeback Spoiled By Ninth Inning Memphis Rally

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team had a roller coast of a game on Saturday (Feb. 24) against Memphis. The Tigers jumped out to a 10-0 lead through four innings played. In the fifth, Nathan Archer belted a grand slam to ignite the Bowling Green offense. The Falcons followed with seven more runs in the fifth inning, taking an 11-10 lead. Memphis battled back with two in the bottom half, but BGSU scored one in the seventh and another in the eighth for a 13-12 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Memphis scored two to claim the 14-13 final.

Archer's grand slam in the fifth and three-RBI double in the sixth gave him seven RBI in the game, the most by a Falcon since Andrew Kubuski on March 17, 2012. His grand slam was also the first for BGSU this season with the last coming from Tyler Ross in the 2023 season finale.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Two walks followed by a single in the bottom of the first for Memphis scored the first run of the game with runners at the corners and one out. The runner on first stole second and forced an errant throw, scoring the runner from third. An RBI single followed to stretch the Memphis lead to 3-0.
The bats started to show for BGSU in the top of the second. Jack Krause and Leighton Banjoff both singled in the inning, but the Tigers worked out of the jam.
In the bottom of the second, Memphis loaded the bases. BGSU traded the run for the outs, turning a double play to put the score at 4-0. Memphis then stole home to extend their lead to 5-0.
Memphis added a run in the third with an RBI double before a three-run home run pushed the score to 9-0.
In the fourth, the Tigers added a run. A batter was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on a ground out before scoring in the same fashion for a 10-0 tally.
Zack Horky began the fifth inning by reaching on a fielding error. A single up the middle by DJ Newman and a walk to Sam Seidel loaded the bases for the Falcons. Nathan Archer stepped in and crushed his second home run of the season, and first grand slam, to cut the lead down to 10-4.
Krause led off the sixth with a single through the left side. Banjoff followed with a walk before Cooper McKenzie pinch hit and reached on an error to load the bases. Caden Parker pinch hit and found a gap in the infield, singling through the right side to score Krause for a 10-5 score.
With the bases still loaded, Newman was hit by a pitch to force home another run with Banjoff scoring. The bases remained loaded with no outs in the inning, prompting a Memphis pitching change.
Seidel continued the rally by putting a ball in play to left field. A fielding error allowed McKenzie to score and kept the bases loaded with a 10-7 score.
Archer followed with a double down the left field line, clearing the bases with Parker, Newman and Seidel all scoring to tie the game at 10-10.
Tyler Ross grounded out, but it was enough to move Archer to third. A wild pitch in the next at-bat resulted in Archer taking home to push BGSU to an 11-10 lead.
Memphis evened the score at 11-11 with a run scoring on a wild pitch before a sacrifice fly moved them in front 12-11.
BGSU's answer came in the top of the seventh. Banjoff started the inning by drawing a walk before McKenzie singled to right center. Parker laid down a bunt to move McKenzie to second before Newman hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Banjoff for the 12-12 score.
Memphis threatened in the bottom of the seventh with two on and one out, but a double play by the BGSU defense ended the inning with the score still tied.
In the top of the eighth, Archer led off with a walk before moving up to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Ross slapped a single right, scoring Archer to give the Falcons a 13-12 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, a one-out walk put one on for Memphis. A single added another runner followed by an RBI single to tie the game at 13-13.
An intentional walk loaded the bases and created a force out at any base. A grounder to third came home for the second out. However, a single in the next at-bat scored the winning run for Memphis, 14-13.

STAT LEADERS

Nathan Archer: 2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB
Jack Krause: 2-for-5, 1 R
Cooper McKenzie: 2-for-3, 1 R
DJ Newman: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R
Caden Parker: 1-for-2, 1 RBI,1 R
Leighton Banjoff: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Tyler Ross: 1-for-5, 1 RBI

FALCON STAT FACTS

Nathan Archer's fifth inning grand slam was his second home run of the season and his first grand slam with BGSU. The last Bowling Green grand slam came in the 2023 season finale when Tyler Ross hit one against Toledo on May 20.
Archer finished the game with seven RBI, the most by a Falcon since Andrew Kubuski had seven in a 22-2 win over Eastern Kentucky on March 17, 2012. Archer missed tying the program record by one RBI.
Logging a single in the fifth inning, DJ Newman extended his hitting streak to five games to start the season. He's also scored in all five games totaling 10 hits and eight runs scored so far this season.
With a hit in the second inning, Jack Krause pushed his on-base streak to five games. During the span, Krause has seven hits, six walks and six runs scored.
Leighton Banjoff registered a hit in the second inning as well, continuing his hitting streak to four games for the Falcons. He's also scored in three straight games.
Caden Parker's RBI single in the sixth inning marked his first plate appearance with the Falcons after transferring to BGSU from Clark College.
Cooper McKenzie made his first appearance of the season and logged a two-hit game, the first multi-hit game of his collegiate career.

UP NEXT
Bowling Green will conclude their weekend series against Memphis with the rubber match on Sunday (Feb. 25) at 2 p.m. EST. The Falcons will then return to the state of Tennessee next weekend to take on the nationally ranked Tennessee Volunteers.

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Nathan Archer

Jack Krause

Cooper McKenzie

DJ Newman

Players Mentioned

Nathan Archer

Leighton Banjoff

Zack Horky

Jack Krause

Cooper McKenzie

DJ Newman

Caden Parker

Tyler Ross

Sam Seidel

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