Broncos Blank BGSU Tuesday

Tuesday, April 30

Kalamazoo, Mich.

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

6-35, 3-20

Western Michigan

26-20, 15-8

Bowling Green

Western Michigan

Photo by: Hailey Pettit-Mastroianni, BGSU Athletics

April 30, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Support BGSU Softball

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Rissa Bajusz and her Western Michigan University teammates kept the Bowling Green State University softball team's bats at bay on Tuesday (April 30), as the Broncos swept a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Ebert Field. Western won by scores of 11-0 and 2-0.

Bajusz struck out nine and faced just one batter over the minimum as the Broncos picked up a five-inning win in the opener. In game two, she relieved starter Kailey O'Connor and picked up the final four outs to complete the sweep.

Scarlet Anderson had two hits for the Falcons in the second game, while Mackenzie Krafcik allowed just two runs in four innings of work in the circle.

BGSU-WMU GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Broncos got on the board early in the opener, with two first-inning runs. Payton Kelly singled through the left side, and Addison Hudson drew a walk. Then, Riley Dittmar's base hit plated Kelly with the game's first run. After a double steal, a sacrifice fly doubled the WMU lead.
• In the second inning, BGSU reliever Alyvia Roth responded to a leadoff walk by getting Cassidy Brendtke to hit a grounder to shortstop Cameron Kaufman, who began a 6-4-3 double play. But, Caitlin Tighe followed with an opposite-field homer down the right-field line.
• The third inning saw Hudson reach on a base hit. Second baseman Mackenna Fry made a diving stop to keep the ball from leaving the infield, but Hudson was able to beat the throw. Dittmar followed with a single, and with the runners on second and third and one out, Taylor Garey's slow roller to the right side scored them both. Hudson scored on the throw to first, while Dittmar beat the relay throw to the plate, giving the hosts a six-run lead.
• Then, errors allowed the Broncos to score five runs – all unearned – in the fourth. Tighe and Kelly each singled with two down, and then a dropped popup allowed both runners to score. After another error and a hit batter, Garey lined a ball down the left-field line for a two-run double.
• Meanwhile, WMU pitcher Rissa Bajusz faced just one over the minimum, striking out nine without walking a batter. BG's lone baserunner came on a bunt single by Aaralyn Nogay with one out in the second. Nogay stole second with two outs, but advanced no further.
• Dittmar, Kelly and Tighe each had two hits for the hosts.

BGSU-WMU GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• Starting pitchers Mackenzie Krafcik and Kailey O'Connor each pitched well in game two. The Falcons doubled their game-one hit total in the first inning, as Delaney Davis led off the game with a sharp single to center. A double-play ball cleared the bases, and after Scarlet Anderson followed by lining a ball through the left side of the WMU infield, another ground ball produced the third out.
• The Broncos began the bottom of the first with a hit, as Kelly lined a ball to the left side. Third baseman Taylor Behrendt knocked it down, then threw from her knees, but Kelly beat the throw for a leadoff single.
• Hudson followed with a bunt, but Krafcik alertly covered third base, and Kaufman – making her BGSU debut at third base after Behrendt had left the game – threw to the pitcher, who tagged Kelly out attempting to advance an extra base.
• Dittmar walked, but on a Haley Boxwell grounder, Dittmar was ruled out for colliding with second baseman Mackenna Fry as Fry attempted to field the ball. One batter later, a fly ball got Krafcik and the Falcons out of the inning.
• Peyton Steffes beat out a two-out chopper to second in the second, and the speedy freshman promptly stole second, but she was stranded there.
• In the third, Peyton Dolejs reached on a two-out error, and Anderson followed with a single off the glove of diving second baseman Garey, putting runners at the corners. But, Reagan Williamson's line drive was hit directly at Garey to retire the side.
• The Broncos loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning. Hudson walked, Dittmar singled to left and and Boxwell's bouncer went off the glove of a leaping Krafcik. The BG hurler got Garey to hit a ground ball to Kaufman at third, who threw home for the force before catcher Marti Henkel fired to first to complete the double play. But, with two down, Riley Chumbley came through with a two-run single that landed just inside the right-field line.
• Neither team threatened again until the bottom of the fifth, when the hosts got a single by Boxwell and a one-out walk to Garey. But, shortstop Wynnie Reid made a tremendous diving catch of a Chumbley liner that seemed ticketed for the outfield, and reliever Roth got the next hitter to fly out to left.
• Williamson got aboard with a two-out smash through the left side in the sixth, but BG could not cut into the Broncos' lead. Bajusz, who had entered the game with two outs in the sixth, then retired the side in order in the seventh to pick up the save.
• O'Connor got the win, allowing five hits before leaving with two outs in the sixth. She struck out one and did not walk a batter.
• Krafcik, as mentioned, allowed just two runs in her four innings of work. Roth and Emma Denison each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
• Anderson went 2-for-3 for the Falcons in game two, while Boxwell was 3-for-3 for the hosts.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will venture to Athens for a three-game series against Ohio this weekend. The Falcons and Bobcats will play a Saturday (May 4) doubleheader, with first pitch at 1:00 p.m. at the Ohio Softball Field.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will wrap up the 2024 season on Sunday (May 5), facing the 'Cats in a single game that begins at noon.

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.