Toledo Takes Series Opener, 8-3

Friday, March 22

Bowling Green, Ohio

3 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

2-16, 1-3

Toledo

11-12, 2-2

Toledo

Bowling Green

Peyton Dolejs - first-inning triple - March 22 2024

Peyton Dolejs slides in safely with a first-inning triple

Photo by: Lauren Laudato, BGSU Athletics

March 22, 2024 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Falcons and Rockets set for a Saturday DH at Meserve Field

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The University of Toledo used a four-run second inning to take the lead for good on Friday afternoon (March 22), and the Rockets went on to an 8-3 win over the Bowling Green State University softball team. The Mid-American Conference game was held at a frigid Meserve Field.

The top three batters in the lineup for the Rockets (11-12, 2-2 MAC) – Eli Enriquez, Sidney Griffith and Riley Mohr – combined for eight of the team's 14 hits. Enriquez and Mohr each had three hits, with Enriquez scoring three times and Mohr driving in three runs.

For the Falcons (2-16, 1-3 MAC) the one-two hitters in the batting order – Aaralyn Nogay and Peyton Dolejs – each had two hits. Nogay was 2-for-3 with a walk, a triple and a run scored. Dolejs went 2-for-4 and also had a triple, and she drove in two of BGSU's three runs.

Nogay and Dolejs led off the Falcon first inning with back-to-back triples, but UT pitcher Sophia Knight settled down after that and recorded a complete-game victory. Knight allowed three earned runs and six hits, walking four Falcons and striking out two.

Emma Denison took the loss for the Falcons, although three of the runs she surrendered were unearned. Taylor Turner pitched 3 2/3 innings of shutout relief for the Orange and Brown.

Gallery: (3-22-2024) 032224 sb v Toledo - Lauren Laudato

BGSU-UT – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Rockets got on the board first, scoring an unearned run in the top of the first. Eli Enriquez began the game by reaching base on an error, and after a stolen base put her at second, she moved to third on a one-out single by Riley Mohr before scoring on Emily Bracamonte's two-out base hit.
• But, the Falcons responded in a hurry. Aaralyn Nogay led off the bottom of the first by lining a Sophia Knight pitch to the wall in center for a triple. Then, Nogay trotted home when Peyton Dolejs followed by lacing a ball to the gap in right-center for a three-base hit of her own. Knight was avoid to avoid further damage, however, getting a foul pop, a ground ball to second and a strikeout to keep BG from scoring a second run in the inning.
• And, UT quickly responded in the second. Maris Barbato led off with a single, and after a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt, Lexi Eckman's ball deep in the hole at short resulted in an RBI single. Eckman stole second and scored on an Enriquez single, and after a BG error allowed a run to score, Mohr drove in another run with a single to left.
• BGSU starter Emma Denison retired the Rockets in order in the third inning, but UT added to the lead in the fourth. Enriquez got on base with a one-out single and continued all the way to third when the ball got past a BG outfielder. She would score on a Sidney Griffith single, and Griffith would score when Mohr hit a ball that bounced off the top of the fence in straightaway center and landed on the other side. The two-run homer gave the visitors an 8-1 lead.
• Knight helped her own cause in the fourth inning, knocking down a hard-hit ball by Wynnie Reid before throwing to first in time for the out, then catching a liner off the bat of Ashley Chevalier. But, BG would mount a rally in the fifth.
• Mackenna Fry, making her first start of the season, drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Kaylee Cole's infield single. Nogay walked to load the bases with no outs, and Dolejs followed with a single that scored pinch-runner Delaney Davis. On the play, UT shortstop Enriquez charged the ball and – with no chance to get an out at any other bag – attempted to get Cole at third base, but her throw was not in time.
• Knight got a fly ball to shallow left and a strikeout, but Lexi Carver drew a two-out walk that scored Cole. Reid's sinking liner to right, however, was speared by charging outfielder Madison Mikulski for the third out.
• BGSU reliever Taylor Turner worked around a leadoff walk in the sixth to set down the next three batters, and she responded to back-to-back singles in the seventh by getting Griffith to hit a soft liner to second baseman Fry, beginning an inning-ending double play.
• But, after Chevalier led off with a sharp single to center in the BG sixth, Knight retired the next six batters to close out the win.

STATS, NOTES & NUMBERS
• UT had a 14-6 lead in hits, with Enriquez and Mohr each picking up three. Both teams had two extra-base hits in the game.
• Knight picked up the complete-game win to improve to 8-4 on the year. She allowed three runs (all earned) and six hits, walking four and striking out two.
• For the Falcons, Nogay was 2-for-3 at the plate, with Dolejs going 2-of-4. Both players had a triple, while Nogay also had a walk and scored a run, and Dolejs drove in two of BGSU's three runs on the day.
• Carver walked and drove in a run, while Chevalier had a hit and a walk. Cole singled and scored, while Fry, in her season debut, drew a walk.
• Denison took the loss in the circle, while Turner picked 3 2/3 innings of scoreless, five-hit relief.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons and Rockets will conclude their three-game weekend series with a Saturday (March 23) doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 p.m. 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.