Falcons Outhit Hoosiers, But IU Turns Walks into Runs on Friday

Friday, March 1

Bloomington, Ind.

4 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

1-4

Indiana

12-4

Bowling Green

Indiana

Peyton Steffes (not 16:9) at CCU Ty Feb 24 2024

Photo by: Joel Beachum

March 01, 2024 | Softball

Box Score

Home team picks up 7-3 win in opening game of the Hoosier Classic

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Bowling Green State University softball team more than doubled up Indiana University in the hits department on Friday (March 1), but the hosts came away with a 7-3 win in the opening game of the Hoosier Classic at Andy Mohr Field.

The Falcons (1-4) had seven hits on the day, with Reagan Williamson picking up two to continue her torrid start to the season. And, Taylor Turner allowed only three hits in a complete-game effort in the circle.

But, IU (12-4) was able to turn walks into runs. Four Hoosier hitters reached base via a base on balls in the game, and all four came around to score.

Two of IU's three hits were home runs, including a solo homer in the second inning, and an inside-the-park homer after a ball down the line took a crazy ricochet off of the fence in foul territory and caromed toward center.

Peyton Dolejs and Hannah Hunt each scored a run and drove in a run on Friday.

Turner, as mentioned, allowed just three hits on the day, en route to her second complete-game effort of the young season.

Macy Montgomery picked up the win in relief for the Hoosiers, pitching the final 3 1/3 innings and allowing just one run and two of BG's seven hits.

BGSU-INDIANA – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Hoosiers took an early lead, scoring three first-inning runs without benefit of a hit. Cora Bassett was hit by a Taylor Turner pitch and promptly stole second. But, she was thrown out trying to steal third, as catcher Marti Henkel's throw and Hannah Hunt's tag erased the baserunner.
• But, three of the next four hitters were able to draw walks, and on the ball-four pitch to Aly VanBrandt, the ball got away and Brianna Copeland scored the game's first run. Then, a throwing error allowed IU to score a pair of unearned runs before Turner picked up an inning-ending strikeout.
• In the third inning, Taylor Minnick gave IU a 4-0 lead with a one-out solo homer. But, BGSU got a pair of runs back in the fourth.
• The Falcons had had a baserunner in each of the first three frames, on singles by Reagan Williamson in both the first and third innings and a Peyton Dolejs walk in the second. In the fourth, Lexi Carver led off with a base hit, and after a fielder's-choice grounder, Hunt took second on a wild pitch, then advanced to third on another ground ball.
• With two down, Dolejs came through with a chopper over the third baseman and into left field. The single allowed Hunt to trot home from third. Cameron Kaufman reached on an IU error, with Dolejs crossing the plate.
• The Hoosiers answered with three runs in the home half of the fourth. A walk and a passed ball put a runner in scoring position, and Brooke Benson singled to plate that runner. Then, Bassett hit a ball down the left-field line, and it hit the fence in foul ground and took a crazy bounce into fair territory, skipping past the Falcon fielder and bouncing toward left-center. Bassett came all the way around to score on the play.
• In the fifth, Peyton Steffes led off with a single, and a Williamson ground ball to the left side put two runners aboard. Carver's sacrifice bunt moved each runner up 60 feet, and Hunt's base hit up the middle scored Steffes.
• But, the Falcons could get no closer, as IU relief pitcher Macy Montgomery allowed just one baserunner (on a Steffes hit-by-pitch) over the final two innings.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons continue action in the Hoosier Classic with a pair of games on Saturday (March 2). BGSU will face IU in a 12:00 p.m. start, then will return to the diamond for a 5:30 p.m. matchup with Valparaiso.

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.