Central Captures Sunday Contest, 8-2, at Meserve

Sunday, March 15

Bowling Green, Ohio

12 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

13-10, 1-2

Central Michigan

11-11, 2-1

Central Michigan

Bowling Green

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

March 15, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Central Michigan University used a five-run second inning to take control on Sunday afternoon (March 15), and the Chippewas went on to defeat the Bowling Green State University softball team, 8-2. The Mid-American Conference was held at Meserve Field.

The Chippewas (11-11, 2-1 MAC) scored in each of the first four innings to take an eight-run lead. Junior Peyton Steffes homered in the fifth inning as part of a two-run inning for the hosts.

Sophomore Morgan Beckham provided lights-out relief for the Falcons (13-10, 1-2 MAC), allowing just one hit in four innings of work. She walked one batter and struck out a career-high five.

Senior Katie Hutter and junior Taylor Behrendt each had two of BGSU's eight hits at the plate.

Jenna Kuzara paced the visitors, going 3-for-4 with a homer, two runs and three RBI.

BGSU-CMU – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Chippewas broke on top with an unearned run in the first inning. Emma Lotus and Jenna Kuzara had back-to-back singles, and after Kuzara's blooper landed in shallow left field, an error on a throw to second allowed the runners to move up to second and third, respectively. That would allow Lotus to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Grace Koenig.
• The Falcons threatened against Mackenzie Langan in the bottom of the first. Hannah Simko battled through a lengthy at-bat to begin the inning, ultimately hitting a line drive that was caught in right field on the 11th pitch. Then, Katie Hutter drove a ball to the wall in center for a double, and Taylor Behrendt followed with a single to center. But, Hutter was thrown out attempting to score on the latter play. Ashley Chevalier drew a walk, but a strikeout ended the inning.
• Tori Briggs led off the second inning with a homer to right, and a Rachel Cairo double was followed by Cierra Laska's single that put runners at the corners. After a pitching change, a liner to right by Alexa Carter allowed Cairo to tag and score.
• Angela Petrovitch reached on a two-out infield error to extend the inning, and the Chippewas took advantage when Lotus singled and Kuzara doubled to score a pair of teammates. Kuzara would score when Koenig followed with a double of her own.
• Central got a run in the third when Cairo singled, Laska walked and Petrovitch reached on a slow roller, beating out the throw for an infield single. And, Kuzara led off the fourth inning with a homer to right, for an 8-0 game.
• After allowing the two hits and a walk in the first inning, Langan surrendered just one hit over the next three frames. And, she struck out the first batter in the fifth. But, two outs away from a run-rule decision, the Falcons would rally.
• Peyton Steffes took two pitches outside of the zone, then hit a drive to right that landed on the netting above the CMU bullpen for a solo homer. Hutter lined a ball through the right side for a two-out single, and Behrendt followed with a single up the middle.
• Then, Chevalier followed with a single of her own, allowing pinch-runner Delaney Davis to round third and score. Cameron Kaufman hit a scorcher, but it was caught by second baseman Petrovitch to end the inning.
• In the seventh, Morgan Beckham worked around a two-out walk to get an inning-ending strikeout of Carter. But, CMU reliever Aubrey Strelow retired the Falcons in order to end the game.
• Beckham threw 36 of her 60 pitches for strikes, facing just three batters over the minimum.
• Langan picked up the win, allowing two runs and seven hits in five innings. She walked one and struck out eight. Strelow pitched two innings of one-hit shutout relief, fanning four.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons begin the road portion of the MAC schedule next weekend, heading to Kalamazoo for a three-game series with Western Michigan. BGSU will meet the Broncos in a Friday (March 20) single game and a Saturday (March 21) doubleheader.

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.