Landon Willeman’s Strong Start Sets Up First Sweep At Akron Since 2014

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AKRON, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team completed the sweep over the Akron Zips on Sunday (March 16) with a 6-4 victory at Skeeles Field. The sweep is the first for BGSU on the road against the Zips since 2014. Additionally, the win gives BGSU eight-straight victories, their longest winning streak since tallying 11 straight in 2010. For the season, Bowling Green moves to 13-5 while being 6-0 in the MAC, the last remaining undefeated team in MAC play for the second consecutive season.

The Falcons went to work early, scoring one in the first and another in the second. The quick lead allowed Landon Willeman to settle in on the mound. Going 6.1 innings, Willeman allowed just two hits in the game, being to the same batter, and had a stretch of 13-straight retired during the contest. BGSU added one in the fifth before a three-run Brady Birchmeier home run in the sixth stretched the lead to 6-0. Akron battled back late, but for the fifth time this season, Connar Penrod slammed the door shut for the save and a Bowling Green victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After a weather delay to the start of the game, first pitch was recorded at 1:45 p.m. Garrett Wright didn't waste any time getting the action started, hitting a triple to the right field wall in the second at-bat of the game. DJ Newman followed with a single up the middle, bringing home Wright for the first run of the game and a 1-0 BGSU lead.
With two outs in the second inning, Sam Seidel drew a walk and stole second. Wright knocked a single into shallow right field with Seidel sliding into home for a 2-0 Falcon advantage.
In the fifth, Brady Birchmeier drew a walk followed by a Cooper McKenzie bloop single to right. TJ Takats legged out a single on a bunt down the third base line, loading the bases. Akron was able to work a double play, but with no outs prior it was enough for Birchmeier to score, stretching the lead to 3-0 for Bowling Green.
The following inning resulted in three runs for the Falcons. Seidel singled for BGSU before an intentional walk to Newman put two on. Birchmeier quickly made the Zips pay for the intentional walk, crushing a three-run home run to center for a 6-0 Falcon lead.
A grand slam in the seventh after Landon Willeman's exit put Akron on the board with a 6-4 score.
For the second time during the weekend, Connar Penrod came on late and orchestrated a save for the Falcons, tossing 1.1 innings.

STAT LEADERS

Landon Willeman: W (1-0). 6.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, 4 K
Connar Penrod: SV (5), 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 3 K
Garrett Wright: 2-for-5, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 R
Brady Birchmeier: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB
TJ Takats: 2-for-3, 2 BB, 1 SB
Cooper McKenzie: 2-for-2, 1 BB
Sam Seidel: 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SB
DJ Newman: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB

FALCON STAT FACTS

With the win, the Falcons claimed a series sweep at Akron for the first time since 2014. Winners in eight straight, Bowling Green is in the midst of their longest winning streak since 2010.
Landon Willeman tossed 6.1 innings for the Falcons in the start, allowing just two hits in the game and only one through the first six innings. Willeman's effort earned him the win, his first of the season and seventh of his BGSU career.
Coming out of the bullpen, Connar Penrod logged his second save of the weekend, fifth of the season and sixth of his career. Penrod is now one away from entering the program's top 10 all-time for single-season saves. He's also now tied with Jacob Turner for the most saves in a career on the active roster, needing nine to break into the top 10.
Hitting a triple in the first inning, Garrett Wright now has a team-high three triples on the season. He's recorded a hit in seven straight games for the Falcons. Similarly, Wright has scored in seven straight games as well, scoring 13 times over the four games.
Brady Birchemeier's fifth inning walk and DJ Newman's first inning single extended both of their on-base streaks. Birchmeier is now up to 19 games going back to last season while Newman is at 13 games for the Falcons.
Birchmeier's sixth inning home run marked his second of the weekend and team-leading sixth of the season. He finished with three RBI in the game, giving him a MAC-leading 29 on the year.
TJ Takats put together a multi-hit day, his fourth of the season and second of the weekend.
Cooper McKenzie logged a 2-for-2 day at the plate. McKenzie has now had a pair of hits in each of his last three starts.

UP NEXT
Bowling Green will return home for a six-game homestand, beginning with two midweek games, scheduled for Tuesday (March 18) against Purdue Fort Wayne and Wednesday (March 19) against Dayton, both with 3 p.m. first pitches.

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