BGSU Sweeps NIU For Record-Setting Fourth-Straight MAC Sweep

Saturday, April 6

DeKalb, Ill.

12 p.m. EST

Bowling Green State University

14-10, 0

Northern Illinois

10-20, 0

Bowling Green

Northern Illinois

Photo by: Kate Laney, BGSU Athletics

April 06, 2024 | Baseball

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Falcons Move to 12-0 In MAC Play For First Time In Program History

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

DeKALB, Ill. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team continued their strong start to MAC play, sweeping the Saturday (April 6) doubleheader against Northern Illinois to clinch the series sweep. The series sweep marks the first for the Falcons in DeKalb in program history. It's also the first time BGSU has tallied four MAC sweeps in a season since 2010. BGSU's 12-0 MAC start is the best in program history while the 12 wins are the most consecutive MAC wins in program history.

In game one, Nathan Archer started the day off with a bang, knocking a solo home run as the leadoff batter. The Falcons added a second run in the inning, but NIU tied it up in the bottom half. Two more runs in the second, including another Archer home run, pushed BGSU back to the lead at 4-2. NIU threatened in the bottom half again, but only got one for a 4-3 score. From there, BGSU added insurance runs, scoring two in the fourth and three in the sixth, including a two-run home run by Jack Krause, for the 9-3 final.

As for the second game, a three-run second inning pushed BGSU to another early lead. NIU answered with a run in the bottom half with the teams playing with a 3-1 score through the fourth. Landon Willeman orchestrated a strong start, striking out eight over six innings to keep BGSU in front. In the fifth, an Archer double kick-started a BGSU rally that plated five runs in the inning, using small ball to score with Archer's leadoff double marking the only extra-base hit of the inning. A two-run home run by DJ Newman in the sixth pushed the score to 10-1 before another run in the seventh clinched the 11-1 run rule in seven innings.

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 1

Nathan Archer began the day with a solo home run to right field to quickly put the Falcons in front 1-0.
The Falcons kept the pressure on in the first. Sam Seidel followed with a single to right. Tyler Ross singled through the right side later in the inning to put runners at the corners. Jack Krause was able to send a sacrifice fly out to center, scoring Seidel for a 2-0 BGSU lead.
Northern Illinois answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 2-2 through one played.
The Falcons quickly responded. Garrett Wright began the second inning with a double to set up a two-run home run for Archer, his second home run in as many plate appearances, for a 4-2 BGSU lead.
The Huskies added a run in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 4-3.
After a scoreless third, the Falcons struck again in the fourth. DJ Newman began the inning with a double to left center. Leighton Banjoff joined him on the base paths via walk. With two outs, TJ Takats ripped a double to left center, scoring both Newman and Banjoff for a 6-3 tally.
The fifth was scoreless before the Falcons added to their score. Ross singled in the sixth followed by a two-run home run off the bat of Krause to right to extend the lead to 8-3.
Banjoff and Takats logged back-to-back singles for Bowling Green to prompt a pitching change. Gavin Ganun was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Wright hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Banjoff for a 9-3 score.

STAT LEADERS, GAME 1

Nic Good: W, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 K
Peyton Wilson: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 K
Nathan Archer: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
DJ Newman: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R
TJ Takats: 3-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB
Tyler Ross: 3-for-5, 1 R
Jack Krause: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
Garrett Wright: 2-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R
Leighton Banjoff: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 2

Bowling Green struck first, scoring two in the second. Leighton Banjoff and TJ Takats tallied back-to-back singles for the Falcons in the inning before Garrett Wright sent a single to left, scoring both for a 2-0 BGSU lead.
Nathan Archer walked after Wright's hit to put two on. Sam Seidel was able to deliver a single to left, scoring Wright to extend the lead to 3-0 for the Falcons.
Northern Illinois answered with a run in the bottom half of the second for a 3-1 score.
The third and fourth innings were scoreless before BGSU tacked on more in the fifth. Archer welcomed a new NIU pitcher to the game with a leadoff double. A Seidel single put runners at the corners. DJ Newman put a ball in play, scoring Archer for a 4-1 lead.
Following the RBI for Newman, Seidel stole third. A wild pitch later in the at-bat was enough for Seidel to move home, advancing the score to 5-1.
Tyler Ross followed with a single to put a runner back on for the Falcons. Walks to Jack Krause and Banjoff loaded the bases before Takats put a ball in play to score Ross. Landon Roque followed with a single to left, bringing in both Krause and Banjoff for an 8-1 BGSU lead.
In the sixth, Seidel reached on a fielder's choice to set up a two-run home run by Newman to push the score to 10-1 Falcons.
In the seventh, Banjoff began the inning with a walk. Roque singled and Wright was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Archer sent a sacrifice fly out to right, scoring Banjoff for the 11-1 advantage.

STAT LEADERS, GAME 2

Landon Willeman: W, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 8 K
Jacob Turner: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 2 K
Sam Seidel: 3-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, 1 SB
Landon Roque: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
DJ Newman: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
Nathan Archer: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB
Garrett Wright: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 R
TJ Takats: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R
Leighton Banjoff: 1-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB
Tyler Ross: 1-for-4, 1 R

FALCON STAT FACTS

Nathan Archer's home run in the first inning in game one marked the second time BGSU has started a game with a home run this season. DJ Newman did so against Tennessee on March 2. The hit, paired with a game two double, pushed Archer's hitting streak to a team-high seven games.
Archer's home run in his second at-bat of the day gave him his third multiple-home run game of the season. Archer now has a team-leading nine home runs on the year and has already matched his career-high for home runs in a season.
Sam Seidel reached base in the first inning of game one with a single and in the first inning of game two with a double, continuing his impressive on-base streak. Seidel has reached in every game he's played this year, extending to 24 games. Going back to last season, Seidel has reached in 35 straight games.
In the second game, Seidel logged a team-high three hits for the Falcons to match his season-high for hits in a game.
Like Seidel, Tyler Ross reached in the first inning of game one and the fifth inning of game two, both with singles, to push his on-base streak to 20 games. Ross has also reached in every game he's played this year with the streak being 21 games going back to last season.
Getting the start in game two, Landon Willeman struck out a career-high eight batters while going six innings, matching his career-high which he set in 2021. The outing marked Willeman's second start of the season, going at least five innings in both appearances.
Jack Krause homered in the sixth inning of game one, his second home run in as many games. The home run in game one and a fifth inning walk in game two pushed his on-base streak to 16 games for BGSU.
TJ Takats drew a first inning walk in game one and hit a single in the second inning of game two to continue his on-base streak to 15 games for the Falcons. Takats produced three hits in the first game of the day, tying his career-high for hits in a game.
DJ Newman's home run in the sixth inning of game two marked his seventh of the season.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will head to Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday (April 9) to face the Ohio State Buckeyes. The next home game for the Falcons is scheduled for Wednesday, April 10 at 3 p.m. against Purdue Fort Wayne.

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