Bowling Green State University Athletics
Friday, February 27
Madeira Beach, Fla.
12:30 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
9-2
13
vs
4
Illinois State
7-6
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Illinois State
0
0
0
0
4
4
7
1
Bowling Green
8
3
0
0
2
13
9
0
Ashley Chevalier's first collegiate homer was a walkoff blast against Illinois State
Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics
Eight-Run First Lifts Falcons Past Illinois State, 13-4
February 27, 2026 | Softball
Inclement weather ends BGSU's comeback bid in Friday's second game
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Bowling Green State University softball team exploded for eight runs in the first inning of Friday's (Feb. 27) opening game, going on to a 13-4 run-rule win over Illinois State University. The game, part of day-one action at the Make It Happen Games, was held at R.O.C. Park.
In the second game of the day, the Falcons fell to UIC, 6-2, in a game that was called due to weather after six innings.
In the latter game, the Falcons (9-3) had a seventh-inning rally going, with two runs home and the tying run coming to the plate with no outs. But, the teams were called off of the field due to lightning, and – despite the fact that it was not yet 6:00 p.m. ET and both teams are in town until Sunday – the game was called, reverting back to the last completed inning.
Freshman Hannah Simko was 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBI in the opening game, while senior Ashley Chevalier and junior Cameron Kaufman each scored twice and drove in a pair of runs. BGSU built an 11-run lead, and after the Redbirds scored four times in the top of the fifth to stave off a run-rule loss for the time being, Chevalier hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the frame.
In the nightcap, redshirt sophomore Addie Martin hit a two-run homer, and true soph Ava McKee saw a two-run seventh-inning shot – which would have been the first round-tripper of her collegiate career – taken away after the game was called.
BGSU-ISU – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons exploded for eight first-inning runs off of ISU pitching. BG had four hits and drew six walks in the inning. Hannah Simko drew a leadoff walk, and Katie Hutter sacrificed her to second. Taylor Behrendt and Hannah Hunt each walked to load the bases, before Cameron Kaufman's two-run single got the Falcons on the board.
• A fly ball to left produced the second out, but the Orange and Brown would score six more times before the Redbirds got out of the inning. Addie Martin walked to load the bases once again, and Kendall Mathews also drew a free pass, plating Kaufman. Martin came home from third when the catcher's pickoff attempt was off the mark, and Simko reached base for the second time in the inning with a single that scored Mathews.
• Simko's single ended ISU starting pitcher Hannah Meshnick's day in the circle, but Hutter greeted reliever Gracelyn Kemp with a two-run single before the Redbirds got out of the inning.
• In case the eight first-inning runs weren't enough, BGSU scored three more times in the second. Hunt led off with a walk, and Ashley Chevalier walked with one down. Martin doubled to score Hunt, and Mathews was hit by a pitch. Kemp got the second out of the inning, but Simko singled to score two more BG runs and make it an 11-0 game.
• Meanwhile, BGSU starting pitcher Mackenzie Krafcik blanked ISU for four-plus innings. She allowed one single in each of the first four frames, then retired the first two batters in the fifth. But, Paige Rummans doubled, and after a walk, Bella Atkinson singled to get the Redbirds on the board. Then, Morgan Calhoun homered to cut the Falcons' lead to 11-4, meaning that the game would continue past the top of the fifth.
• The game didn't continue for long, though, as BG ended it in the bottom of the inning. Hunt singled with one out, before a fielder's choice produced the second out of the inning. But, Chevalier ended the contest with a two-run homer, the first of her BGSU career.
• Krafcik picked up the complete-game win to improve to 4-0 on the season. She scattered seven hits, walking two batters and striking out four.
• Meshnick, the first of three ISU pitchers, took the loss.
• BGSU batters scored 13 runs with just seven hits, but the Falcons walked nine times and two batters were hit by pitches.
• Every BG starter in the lineup reached base at least once via hit or walk, with Simko getting on back in all four plate appearances. The freshman was 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs and three RBI.
• Hunt singled and walked twice, while Martin homered and had a pair of walks. Both players, along with Simko, Chevalier and Kaufman, scored twice.
BGSU-UIC – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Flames got on the board with a pair of first-inning runs. Cameran Rios, Sam Tourtillott and Ari O'Connell each singled to help stake UIC to that early lead.
• The Falcons answered quickly, as after a Cameron Kaufman walk in the top of the second inning, Addie Martin homered to tie the game. The homer was Martin's sixth of the season and the 19th of her BGSU career.
• The game remained tied until the fifth. Diamond Blomlie led off with a single for the Flames, and took second on a sac bunt by Rios. Toutillott's single put runners at the corners, and after a walk loaded the bases, O'Connell's sac fly allowed Blomlie to tag and score the go-ahead run.
• A two-run single by Emily Brecht increased the UIC lead to 5-2, and the Flames got another run in the sixth on a walk, a groundout and a pair of wild pitches.
• In the seventh, Martin drew a leadoff walk against UIC hurler Trinity Brandhorst, then advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt before stealing third. Then, Ava McKee hit what appeared to be the first home run of her collegiate career, and Kendall Mathews battled through a nine-pitch at-bat to draw a walk.
• BGSU had closed the deficit to 6-4, with nobody out and the potential tying run coming to the plate. But, the teams left the field due to lightning in the vicinity, and after a delay, the game was called at approximately 5:40 p.m. Eastern Time.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons are back in action on Saturday (Feb. 28), with two more contests in the Make It Happen Games. BGSU will face Albany at 12:30 p.m., before meeting Colgate in a 3:00 p.m. start.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will conclude the tournament on Sunday morning (March 1), facing Bethune-Cookman in a 9:00 a.m. start.
FOLLOW THE FALCONS
• For more information on BGSU softball, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGAthletics and @BGSUSoftball) and Instagram (@bgsu_softball) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
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In the second game of the day, the Falcons fell to UIC, 6-2, in a game that was called due to weather after six innings.
In the latter game, the Falcons (9-3) had a seventh-inning rally going, with two runs home and the tying run coming to the plate with no outs. But, the teams were called off of the field due to lightning, and – despite the fact that it was not yet 6:00 p.m. ET and both teams are in town until Sunday – the game was called, reverting back to the last completed inning.
Freshman Hannah Simko was 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBI in the opening game, while senior Ashley Chevalier and junior Cameron Kaufman each scored twice and drove in a pair of runs. BGSU built an 11-run lead, and after the Redbirds scored four times in the top of the fifth to stave off a run-rule loss for the time being, Chevalier hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the frame.
In the nightcap, redshirt sophomore Addie Martin hit a two-run homer, and true soph Ava McKee saw a two-run seventh-inning shot – which would have been the first round-tripper of her collegiate career – taken away after the game was called.
BGSU-ISU – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons exploded for eight first-inning runs off of ISU pitching. BG had four hits and drew six walks in the inning. Hannah Simko drew a leadoff walk, and Katie Hutter sacrificed her to second. Taylor Behrendt and Hannah Hunt each walked to load the bases, before Cameron Kaufman's two-run single got the Falcons on the board.
• A fly ball to left produced the second out, but the Orange and Brown would score six more times before the Redbirds got out of the inning. Addie Martin walked to load the bases once again, and Kendall Mathews also drew a free pass, plating Kaufman. Martin came home from third when the catcher's pickoff attempt was off the mark, and Simko reached base for the second time in the inning with a single that scored Mathews.
• Simko's single ended ISU starting pitcher Hannah Meshnick's day in the circle, but Hutter greeted reliever Gracelyn Kemp with a two-run single before the Redbirds got out of the inning.
• In case the eight first-inning runs weren't enough, BGSU scored three more times in the second. Hunt led off with a walk, and Ashley Chevalier walked with one down. Martin doubled to score Hunt, and Mathews was hit by a pitch. Kemp got the second out of the inning, but Simko singled to score two more BG runs and make it an 11-0 game.
• Meanwhile, BGSU starting pitcher Mackenzie Krafcik blanked ISU for four-plus innings. She allowed one single in each of the first four frames, then retired the first two batters in the fifth. But, Paige Rummans doubled, and after a walk, Bella Atkinson singled to get the Redbirds on the board. Then, Morgan Calhoun homered to cut the Falcons' lead to 11-4, meaning that the game would continue past the top of the fifth.
• The game didn't continue for long, though, as BG ended it in the bottom of the inning. Hunt singled with one out, before a fielder's choice produced the second out of the inning. But, Chevalier ended the contest with a two-run homer, the first of her BGSU career.
• Krafcik picked up the complete-game win to improve to 4-0 on the season. She scattered seven hits, walking two batters and striking out four.
• Meshnick, the first of three ISU pitchers, took the loss.
• BGSU batters scored 13 runs with just seven hits, but the Falcons walked nine times and two batters were hit by pitches.
• Every BG starter in the lineup reached base at least once via hit or walk, with Simko getting on back in all four plate appearances. The freshman was 3-for-3 with a walk, two runs and three RBI.
• Hunt singled and walked twice, while Martin homered and had a pair of walks. Both players, along with Simko, Chevalier and Kaufman, scored twice.
BGSU-UIC – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Flames got on the board with a pair of first-inning runs. Cameran Rios, Sam Tourtillott and Ari O'Connell each singled to help stake UIC to that early lead.
• The Falcons answered quickly, as after a Cameron Kaufman walk in the top of the second inning, Addie Martin homered to tie the game. The homer was Martin's sixth of the season and the 19th of her BGSU career.
• The game remained tied until the fifth. Diamond Blomlie led off with a single for the Flames, and took second on a sac bunt by Rios. Toutillott's single put runners at the corners, and after a walk loaded the bases, O'Connell's sac fly allowed Blomlie to tag and score the go-ahead run.
• A two-run single by Emily Brecht increased the UIC lead to 5-2, and the Flames got another run in the sixth on a walk, a groundout and a pair of wild pitches.
• In the seventh, Martin drew a leadoff walk against UIC hurler Trinity Brandhorst, then advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt before stealing third. Then, Ava McKee hit what appeared to be the first home run of her collegiate career, and Kendall Mathews battled through a nine-pitch at-bat to draw a walk.
• BGSU had closed the deficit to 6-4, with nobody out and the potential tying run coming to the plate. But, the teams left the field due to lightning in the vicinity, and after a delay, the game was called at approximately 5:40 p.m. Eastern Time.
UP NEXT
• The Falcons are back in action on Saturday (Feb. 28), with two more contests in the Make It Happen Games. BGSU will face Albany at 12:30 p.m., before meeting Colgate in a 3:00 p.m. start.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will conclude the tournament on Sunday morning (March 1), facing Bethune-Cookman in a 9:00 a.m. start.
FOLLOW THE FALCONS
• For more information on BGSU softball, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGAthletics and @BGSUSoftball) and Instagram (@bgsu_softball) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Krafcik, Mackenzie (4-0)
L: Hannah Meshnick (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Paige Rummans 1
HR: Morgan Calhoun 1
RBI: Bella Atkinson 1 ; Morgan Calhoun 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Paige Rummans 1 ; Tatum Wolford 1 ; Bella Atkinson 1 ; Morgan Calhoun 1
Batting:
2B: Martin, Addie 1
HR: Chevalier, Ashley 1
RBI: Simko, Hannah 3 ; Hutter, Katie 2 ; Kaufman, Cameron 2 ; Chevalier, Ashley 2 ; Martin, Addie 1 ; Mathews, Kendall 1 ; Steffes, Peyton 1
SH: Hutter, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Simko, Hannah 2 ; Behrendt, Taylor 1 ; Hunt, Hannah 2 ; Kaufman, Cameron 2 ; Chevalier, Ashley 2 ; Martin, Addie 2 ; Mathews, Kendall 1 ; Steffes, Peyton 1
HBP: Chevalier, Ashley 1 ; Mathews, Kendall 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
2
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballMI
/ SoftballUtil.
/ SoftballSS
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
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