Falcons Fall in Athens on Sunday

Sunday, May 5

Athens, Ohio

12:00 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Ohio

Mackenzie Krafcik v NIU | April 27, 2024

Photo by: Kate Laney, BGSU Athletics

May 05, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

ATHENS, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University softball team saw the 2024 season come to an end on Sunday (May 5), as the Falcons dropped a Mid-American Conference doubleheader to Ohio University. The Bobcats picked up wins by scores of 9-3 and 2-0 at the Ohio Softball Field

In the opener, freshman Aaralyn Nogay went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and a line drive hit right at the Ohio shortstop. Her other at-bat saw her robbed of a hit by a diving catch near the left-field line.

Another freshman, Cameron Kaufman, went 2-for-3 in the second game of the day. Sophomore Mackenzie Krafcik allowed just four hits before leaving with two outs in the sixth, but the Bobcats bunched all four of those hits into the same inning, plating a pair of second-inning runs.

BGSU-OHIO GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons broke on top in Sunday's opener. Aaralyn Nogay began the game with a single and promptly stole second. She went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Peyton Dolejs and scored on a wild pitch by Ohio starter Skipp Miller.
• But, the Bobcats tied it up in the home half of the first. Lauren Yuhas was hit by a pitch, then took second on a sac bunt and third on a groundout. She would score on a wild pitch by Falcon starter Taylor Turner.
• The home team took the lead in the third. Yuhas again led off the inning and again reached base, this time with a single. She stole second, but Turner set down the next two hitters. Izzie Wilson, however, came through with a two-out double that plated Yuhas, and Sydney Grein followed with a run-scoring single.
• And, a BG error opened the door for Ohio in the fourth, and the Bobcats took advantage. Tori O'Brien led off with a single, and on a bunt by CiCi Keidel, the throw to first sailed high and went down the line in foul territory, scoring a run. Several batters later, Emma Hoffner singled to give the hosts a 5-1 lead.
• In the fifth, the 'Cats scored twice more, with the big blow a homer off the bat of Annalia Paoli.
• The Falcons got a pair of runs back in the sixth. Dolejs reached on an error to begin the inning, and Reagan Williamson's sharp single to left put two runners aboard. Scarlet Anderson followed with a single to center that scored Dolejs, and pinch-runner Peyton Steffes would score on a groundout by Marti Henkel.
• But, the Bobcats would answer in the bottom of the inning. After two walks and a wild pitch, Wilson singled to score a teammate, with a second run scoring on a BG error.
• The Falcons put a runner on base in six of the seven innings. But, Ohio's leadoff hitter reached base in five of the six innings in which the 'Cats batted.
• Nogay had a two-hit game, while Anderson, Katie Hutter and Williamson each had one hit apiece.
• For the 'Cats, Wilson was 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs, while O'Brien went 2-for-3.
• Miller picked up the complete-game win, allowing two earned runs and five hits. She walked three Falcons and struck out three.
• Turner took the loss, giving up five earned runs and eight hits in her five innings of action. Alyvia Roth pitched the sixth inning, allowing one earned run.

BGSU-OHIO GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The two starters, BGSU's Mackenzie Krafcik and Ohio's Ellie Greene, each pitched quite well in game two. Nogay and Dolejs each reached base to start the game, but Greene and the 'Cats got out of the jam.
• Krafcik, as mentioned, allowed only four hits in her complete-game effort, but the Bobcats bunched them all together, scoring twice in the second inning.
• After Krafcik struck out the leadoff hitter in that second frame, Grein and Brenna Farmer each singled. Then, Paoli followed with an RBI single to left, and a sac fly by Emily Caron scored another run.
• Keidel also singled in that inning, but Krafcik would not allow another hit. She got the next batter to hit a popup to Cameron Kaufman at shortstop. Beginning with that batter, she retired 12 of 14 hitters, allowing only two walks in that time.
• Krafcik ended her day by getting the first two batters of the sixth inning before leaving. Turner came on and threw just one pitch before leaving the field for the final time. Then, Ellie Price came on and got an inning-ending strikeout.
• But, after a slightly rocky start, Greene gave up just three hits over the final six innings. Kaufman singled in the third, taking second on a sac bunt by Mackenna Fry. And, Ashley Chevalier singled in the fourth, but did not advance any further.
• In the Falcon fifth, Taylor Behrendt led off with a walk, and Kaufman singled to put two runners aboard. Fry's second sac bunt in as many plate appearances put two runners in scoring position, but a Falcon was picked off for the second out before a popup to shallow center ended the inning.
• Anderson walked in the sixth, but Greene responded with an inning-ending popup, then got three ground balls to second base in the seventh to seal the win.
• Kaufman was 2-of-3 in the contest, with Nogay, Dolejs and Chevalier each picking up hits as well. Four Bobcats had a hit apiece in the nightcap.
• Krafcik pitched a gem, allowing just one earned run and four hits before leaving with two outs in the sixth. She needed just 66 pitches.
• Turner, as mentioned, threw one pitch, while Price needed just two pitches to get an inning-ending strikeout in that sixth frame.

UP NEXT
• For the Falcons, Sunday's doubleheader concluded the 2024 season.

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.