Chanticleers Hold Off Spirited BGSU Rally Wednesday, 11-6

Wednesday, March 4

Conway, S.C.

4 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

10-7

Coastal Carolina

12-9

Bowling Green

Coastal Carolina

Photo by: ETSU Athletics

March 04, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

CONWAY, S.C. – Host Coastal Carolina University held off a spirited rally by the Bowling Green State University softball team Wednesday (March 4), as the Chanticleers posted an 11-6 win at St. John Stadium.

The Chanticleers (12-9) led by a 9-0 count after four innings, and CCU was just three outs away from a run-rule victory. But, in the fifth inning, seven-straight batters reached base for the Falcons (10-7), who scored five times in the frame. A spectacular catch early in the inning was the only thing that kept the first nine Falcons from reaching base in the inning.

Coastal, however, scored twice in the sixth to extend the margin back out to six runs.

Senior Katie Hutter was 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch, while freshman Hannah Simko went 2-for-4. BGSU batters drew four walks and were hit by pitch three times.

BGSU vs. CCU – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Chanticleers scored a pair of first-inning runs to take the lead against senior Mackenzie Krafcik. After back-to-back walks, Georgia Hood doubled to score a run and give the hosts an early lead. Coastal would score a second run on a groundout.
• In the third, Delaney Keith led off with a walk, and Kaelin Cash doubled the lead with a one-out homer. Then, after a pitching change, a Brie Normandin single was followed by a McKennah Metzger homer to left-center, for a 6-0 CCU lead.
• And, after singles by Libby Pippin and Keith in the fourth, Hood homered to give the hosts a nine-run lead. CCU was three outs away from victory.
• But, after generating just two hits over the first four innings, the Falcons passed the bat in the fifth, sending 11 batters to the plate.
• Ashley Chevalier began the inning with a single, and Peyton Steffes was robbed of at least a double when Clara Hudgens made a spectacular leaping catch in deep center field.
• That catch was all that prevented nine-straight Falcons from reaching base. After the web gem, Hannah Simko and Katie Hutter each singled to load the bases. Then, Taylor Behrendt lined a base hit to right field to plate pinch-runner Delaney Davis.
• Hannah Hunt walked on four pitches to allow Simko to trot home, making it a 9-2 game and ensuring that the contest would continue.
• The Chants made a pitching change, but Abby Henderson walked Cameron Kaufman to score pinch-runner Jilliyn Gardner, and a free pass to Kendall Mathews allowed Behrendt to score.
• Addie Martin was hit by a pitch, and pinch-runner Sienna Hutchins scored the Falcons' fifth run. Coastal then would get out of the inning, but after a walk to begin the bottom of the frame, Alyvia Roth entered the circle and retired the next three batters to keep it a 9-5 contest.
• After Hutter was hit by a pitch with one out in the sixth, however, first baseman Hood caught a scorching line drive off the bat of Behrendt. The ball was caught near the first-base bag, and Hood was able to step on the bag for an inning-ending double play.
• Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Brie Normandin's two-out, two-run homer gave CCU a little more breathing room.
• The Falcons got a seventh-inning run when Hunt led off with a double, and Martin brought her around with a two-out, two-base hit. But, Henderson would get a game-ending strikeout to close out the victory.
• Keith was 2-for-2 with a double and two walks, and scored four runs in the game. Hood and Normandin each had two hits and drove in three runs.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons will head to Charleston for a weekend series vs. Charleston Southern, beginning with a Friday (March 6) doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 4:00 p.m. at the CSU Softball Complex.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will wrap up that Charleston Southern series with a Saturday (March 7) single game, starting at 2:00 p.m.

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.