Zips Capture Two Close Contests on Saturday

Saturday, April 6

Bowling Green, Ohio

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

4-21, 1-8

Akron

15-18, 6-4

Akron

Bowling Green

Photo by: Ryan Griswold, BGSU Athletics

April 06, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Support BGSU Softball Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Dolejs goes 4-for-4 in game two

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The University of Akron came out on the winning end of a pair of close contests against Bowling Green State University softball team on Saturday (April 6). The Zips picked up wins by scores of 4-2 and 7-5 in Mid-American Conference action at Meserve Field.

In the opener, the Falcons (4-22, 1-9 MAC) scored twice in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead, but the visitors tied the contest in the fourth, then tallied single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to capture the win.

Game two saw BGSU rally from deficits to tie the game on no fewer than four occasions, before the Zips (16-18, 7-4 MAC) took the lead for good with a two-run sixth.

Sophomore Mackenzie Krafcik threw a complete game in the opener, allowing three earned runs and six hits.

Peyton Dolejs went 4-for-4 at the plate in the nightcap, with a double and a stolen base. Ashley Chevalier and Cameron Kaufman each had two hits and an RBI in game two.

NOTE OF THE DAY
• Senior Peyton Dolejs, as mentioned, was a perfect 4-for-4 in Saturday's second game, marking her first four-hit game as a Falcon. The last four-hit game by a BG player came nearly two years ago, as Sophie.Weber had four hits on May 21, 2022.
• The last time a player had more than four hits in a single game came three seasons ago, as Madi McCoy had five hits in a win at Northern Illinois on May 7, 2021.

Gallery: (4-6-2024) 040624 sb v Akron - Ryan Griswold

BGSU-AKRON GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Zips got on the board early. BGSU starter Mackenzie Krafcik walked just four batters in her complete-game effort, but three of them came to the first three batters of the game. A double-play ball scored a run, and another grounder got the Falcons out of the inning.
• Krafcik allowed just one baserunner over the next two innings, on a bunt single, but BGSU had just one baserunner in the first two innings of the contest against UA starter Macy Walters.
• In the third inning, the Falcons took the lead with a pair of runs. Delaney Davis reached on an error and promptly stole second. She came around to score when Aaralyn Nogay ripped a ball to right for a triple, and Nogay tagged and scored on a sacrifice fly by Peyton Dolejs, giving the Orange and Brown a 2-1 lead.
• But, the Zips answered quickly, after Sophia Wygast led off the fourth inning with a single. Pinch-runner Haley Glass stole second, took third on a ground ball and scored on a single by Walters.
• The teams combined for just one baserunner (a Wynnie Reid walk in the bottom of the fourth) over the next inning and a half. But, UA took the lead in the sixth. Wygast and Lily Sullivan began the inning with back-to-back singles, and moved up on a groundout. Then, a sac fly by Delaney Jenkinson scored Wygast with the go-ahead run.
• The Falcons got a pair of hits in the bottom of the sixth, by Reagan Williamson and Lexi Carver, but could not plate the tying run. Then, UA doubled the lead with an unearned run in the seventh.
• Melissa Dudek walked and took second on a grounder before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Krafcik struck out the next two batters, but not before a passed ball allowed Dudek to cross the plate. And, Walters retired the Falcons in order in the bottom of the inning to close out the win.
• Walters allowed just three hits in the complete-game win, walking three and striking out four. Wygast was the lone player with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 and scoring a run.
• For the Falcons, Nogay had the RBI triple and scored a run, while Dolejs also drove in a run. Williamson was 1-for-2 with a walk, while Carver walked and Davis scored a run.
• Krafcik, as mentioned, allowed three earned runs and six hits in seven innings of work. She walked four and struck out three.

BGSU-AKRON GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons rallied from deficits on four occasions, before UA took the lead for good in the sixth.
• The Zips scored a pair of first-inning runs, as Brooke Sivek led off the game with a single and scored on a two-run homer by Wygast. But, BGSU quickly tied the score.
• The Falcons sent seven batters to the plate in the inning, which began with a Nogay walk. Dolejs followed with a single, and the runners moved up on a ground ball. Nogay scored on a passed ball, and after Carver drew a walk to put runners at the corners, Dolejs proceeded to steal home to knot the score.
• The visitors retook the lead in the second inning, as Tiffany Stevens singled, then stole second and continued all the way home on a BG error.
• BG starter Emma Denison retired the side in order in the third, before the Falcons tied the game once again. Dolejs led off with a single, and Cameron Kaufman followed with a single of her own. After a pair of fielder's choices each produced an out, Ashley Chevalier came through with a two-out single that plated Kaufman.
• But, back came the Zips, as UA strung together four-straight singles in the fourth inning, with an Autumn Bailey hit scoring Dudek.
• BGSU followed suit in the bottom of the inning, with a two-out rally. First Nogay, then Dolejs, then Kaufman singled, with Nogay scoring on the latter hit.
• Akron answered in the fifth, with an unearned run. Two singles, sandwiched around an error, loaded the bases, and a Morgan Sizemore sacrifice fly plated a run. BGSU responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the frame, as Chevalier was hit by a Haley Croyle pitch, and Williamson followed with a single. An error on the play allowed Chevalier to come all the way around to score, making it a 5-5 game.
• But, UA took the lead for good in the sixth. Meagan Lee singled and scored on a Bailey triple, and Wygast's single scored Bailey to give UA a 7-5 lead.
• Davis led off the BG sixth with a single, but was erased on a double play. Dolejs followed with a two-out double – her fourth hit of the game – but Croyle got an inning-ending popup to first, then retired the side in order in the seventh.
• Sivek and Lee each had three hits to pace UA's 14-hit attack, while Wygast drove in three runs and Bailey two.
• For the Falcons, Dolejs went 4-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored. Kaufman and Chevalier each had two hits, a run scored and an RBI.
• Denison threw a complete game for the Falcons, walking one and striking out six, the highest total of her young career.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons and Zips will return to Meserve Field on Sunday (April 7), to conclude the weekend series with a single game that is set to start at 12:00 p.m.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will prepare for a three-game series at Ball State next weekend.

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.