Falcons Tally Program’s 1800th Win, Split Saturday Doubleheader Against Western Carolina

Saturday, February 21

Cullowhee, N.C.

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

1-4

Western Carolina

4-2

Bowling Green

Western Carolina

Photo by: Marlon Howard, Western Carolina Athletics

Falcons Tally Program’s 1800th Win, Split Saturday Doubleheader Against Western Carolina

February 21, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 BGSU-WCU Box Score, Game 1 BGSU-WCU Box Score, Game 2 Support Our Student-Athletes

Horky Heats Up With Triple, Home Run As Part Of Four-Hit Day

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Bowling Green State University baseball team wrapped up the weekend series against Western Carolina with a three-game series on Saturday (Feb. 21). The Falcons rallied for five unanswered runs to take a late lead, holding on for a 6-5 victory and the first win of the 2026 season. In the second contest, the Catamounts battled back for a 5-0 final score, splitting the doubleheader. BGSU will now turn to their first midweek game of the season, currently set for a Tuesday tilt (Feb. 24) at Cincinnati.

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 1

Carrson Sova started strong, striking out the first two batters he faced, but Western Carolina tallied the first runs of the game with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the third the Falcons answered. Andrew DiLodovico drew a walk to start the frame. WCU battled back with a pair of strikeouts, but Anthony Mitta was hit by a pitch to put two on. With two strikes in his at-bat, Zack Horky drove a single through the left side of the infield, bringing DiLodovico around from second for the first BGSU tally of the day.
In the fourth, Western Carolina tallied a run on a fly out. A sprinting Chase Chopin made the catch, crashing into the wall before working to double the runner at first who had rounded second for a double play and a 4-1 score.
The Falcons responded in the fifth. Sam Seidel legged out an infield single before stealing second, his sixth stolen base of the season. Mitta followed with a double down the left field line, reaching the wall and scoring Seidel for a 4-2 tally at the midway point.
In the eighth, Horky led off with a triple high off the left field wall. Pauly Mancino kept the hot start to the frame going by legging out an infield single to short with Horky scoring for a 4-3 score.
The Falcons kept it going in the inning with a TJ Takats liner into right for a single, moving Mancino up to third for runners at the corners. After a pitching change, Chopin laid down a bunt that brought Mancino home, evading a tag to tie it up, 4-4.
Western Carolina tallied the second out, but Vinny Salvione added another tally with an RBI double into left field, scoring Takats from second to push BGSU in front, 5-4.
After a one-two-three inning for Nate Kress on the mound, Horky added another run to the BGSU tally with a home run to right center, pushing the advantage to 6-4.
Western Carolina worked for one run in the ninth, but Kade Arn managed to close the door for the 6-5 BGSU win and his first save of the season.

STAT LEADERS, GAME 1

Nate Kress: W (1-0), 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 2 K
Kade Arn: SV (1), 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 2 K
Zack Horky: 3-for-5, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
Vinny Salvione: 2-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Andrew DiLodovico: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB
Anthony Mitta: 1-for-5, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Pauly Mancino: 1-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 R
Sam Seidel: 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SB
TJ Takats: 1-for-4, 1 R

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 2

Western Carolina tallied the first run of the second game of the day, scoring one in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead. The Catamounts added two in the second and one in the fourth for a 4-0 advantage.
Bowling Green's pitching staff registered scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth, but a solo shot in the seventh extended the WCU lead to 5-0.

STAT LEADERS, GAME 2

Luke Krouse: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 1 K
CJ Boudreaux: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER
Ethan Papacek: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 1 K
Anthony Mitta: 1-for-4
Zack Horky: 1-for-4

FALCON STAT FACTS

With the win in the first game of the doubleheader, BGSU not only tallied their first win of the 2026 season, but the 1,800th win in program history.
In the first game, Zack Horky ripped a triple and a home run, marking his third triple and second home run of his BGSU career. Horky is second on the active roster in career triples.
Nate Kress recorded the first win on the mound for the Falcons this year, the third of his career after registering two last year.
Kade Arn earned the save in the win, the first of the season for BGSU and the second of his career after logging one in 2024 with a four-inning save against Eastern Michigan in a 7-1 win.
Pauly Mancino extended his start to the season with a hit in each game. Through six games, Mancino has knocked a base hit in five.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will return to the state of Ohio for the first time in the 2026 season, playing on the road against Cincinnati. Currently, the game is scheduled for Tuesday (Feb. 24) at 4 p.m. Any schedule changes will be announced on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Baseball) or at BGSUAthletics.com.

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