McKenzie’s Ninth Inning Pinch Hit Blast Grants BGSU Win Over USC Upstate

Friday, February 21

Spartanburg, S.C.

2 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

USC Upstate

Photo by: Tennessee Athletics

McKenzie’s Ninth Inning Pinch Hit Blast Grants BGSU Win Over USC Upstate

February 21, 2025 | Baseball

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Falcons Tally Third Straight Win, Advance To 3-1 For First Time Since 2007

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team produced a come-from-behind win on Friday (Feb. 21) to begin the weekend series in South Carolina. After trailing 2-1 to USC Upstate going into the ninth inning, the Falcons put up a four-spot in the frame to clinch a 5-2 victory. Titus Lotz picked up the win on the back of 2.1 scoreless innings of relief while Owen Poole closed it down for his second save of the season. BGSU is now 3-1 on the year for the first time since 2007 and have won three straight.

In the ninth, TJ Takats started the inning with a single and a steal, setting up a Brady Birchmeier RBI double to tie the game. USC Upstate made a pitching change, but a hit by pitch to Garrett Sloan put two on for the Falcons with only one out. Cooper McKenzie was called on as a pinch hitter and delivered his first career home run in the form of a three-run blast to grant the Orange and Brown the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The two teams began the game with a scoreless first inning. USC Upstate attempted to steal home, but the Falcons caught the runner to end the inning with the 0-0 tie intact.
Gunner Antillon reached in the second inning on an error for the first BGSU baserunner. He stole second, but didn't advance beyond there in the inning.
The first Bowling Green hit of the game came in the top of the fourth with Garrett Wright striking a double to right center to start the frame. DJ Newman followed with a single up the middle to put runners at the corners with no outs in the fourth. TJ Takats stepped in and put a ball in play that brought home Wright for the first run of the game and a 1-0 BGSU lead.
In the bottom half of the fourth, Upstate answered with a run to knot it back up at 1-1.
In the fifth, Upstate put runners at the corners, but Ty Roder worked out of the jam with three straight outs to keep the 1-1 score.
Newman reached in the sixth for the Falcons, stealing second and taking third on a Takats fly out to right, but couldn't find a way home with the 1-1 score holding.
A home run for Upstate in the sixth broke the tie, putting the Spartans in front 2-1.
The score remained until the ninth. Takats knocked a single and stole second, setting up an RBI double to left center by Brady Birchmeier to knot it up 2-2 with no outs in the ninth, prompting an Upstate pitching change.
After the change, Garrett Sloan was hit by a pitch to put two on for the Falcons. Cooper McKenzie was called on to pinch hit and blasted a three-run home run to push BGSU in front 5-2.

STAT LEADERS

Cooper McKenzie: 1-for-1, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
Garrett Wright: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 R
DJ Newman: 2-for-4, 1 SB
Brady Birchmeier: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R
TJ Takats: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 SB
Caden Parker: 1-for-3, 1 BB
Owen Poole: SV (2), 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 2 K
Titus Lotz: W (1-0), 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 3 K
Landon Willeman: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R/ER, 2 K

FALCON STAT FACTS

With the win, the Falcons are off to a 3-1 start for the first time since 2007, which also marks the last time the Falcons won four of their first six games (won the first two weekend series).
Cooper McKenzie's ninth-inning pinch hit home run marked the first of his BGSU career. The three RBI on the blast also mark a new career-high.
Brady Birchmeier tallied the first Falcon RBI of the ninth inning, increasing his hold on the team lead to six in the early going of the season.
Owen Poole recorded his second save of the season through three BGSU wins. He is now second on the active roster in saves, trailing only Jacob Turner's six.
Titus Lotz tossed two-and-a-third scoreless frames for the Falcons, striking out three and recording his first win at the collegiate level in just his second appearance.
Garrett Wright registered two hits for the Falcons, extending his on-base streak to a team-high 12 games going back to last season.
The win is the first over USC Upstate in program history with this being the first meeting all-time.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will put their two-game series against USC Upstate on pause for a Saturday (Feb. 22) tilt against Presbyterian. BGSU and the Blue Hose will face off with a 3 p.m. first pitch in Clinton, S.C. before the Falcons return to Spartanburg on Sunday (Feb. 23) for a 1 p.m. start against USC Upstate.

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