Four-Run Second Inning Lifts Falcons Past Charleston Southern Friday Afternoon

Friday, March 6

Charleston, S.C.

4 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

11-7

Charleston Southern

4-18

Bowling Green

Charleston Southern

Michelle Gardner & Addie Martin | Sept. 20, 2025 v Tiffin

Photo by: Drake Harlett, BGSU Athletics

Four-Run Second Inning Lifts Falcons Past Charleston Southern Friday Afternoon

March 06, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Buccaneers capture second game for split of DH

By: by Mike Cihon, BGSU Strategic Communications

CHARLESTON, S.C. – One inning was all it took for the Bowling Green State University softball team to seize control of Friday's (March 6) opener, as the Falcons defeated Charleston Southern University, 4-1, at the CSU Softball Complex.

But, the Buccaneers turned the tables in game two, capturing a win by the same score as the teams split their Friday doubleheader.

The Falcons (11-8) scored four times in the second inning of the first game, and senior Mackenzie Krafcik allowed only an unearned run en route to the complete-game win.

But, in game two, the Buccaneers (5-18) put three runs on the board in the second inning to take the lead for good.

Krafcik scattered eight hits in her victory, In game two, Madison Wendel also allowed eight hits in her complete-game effort. She needed just 69 pitches to get through six innings, while her counterpart, CSU starter Kinsey Clopton, threw 157 pitches in seven innings.

BGSU-CSU GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The only baserunner of the first inning for either team came on a two-out blooper down the left-field line by CSU's Jordyn Dimond. But, BGSU starter Mackenzie Krafcik responded by getting a ground ball back to the circle for the third out.
• BGSU took the lead in the top of the second. Hannah Hunt drew a leadoff walk, and Cameron Kaufman reached on a bunt single. Kendall Mathews bunted as well, with her sacrifice moving the runners to second and third, before Addie Martin hit the game's next pitch to the wall in center for a two-run double.
• Then, with two outs, Peyton Steffes roped the first pitch she saw into shallow right, with Martin rounding third and sliding into home safely, ahead of the tag. Steffes stole second and scored on Hannah Simko's single up the middle.
• CSU starting pitcher Brenna Conley retired the Falcons in order in five of the seven innings, while the Bucs had one baserunner in each of the first four frames before putting two aboard in the fifth. But, Krafcik kept the hosts off of the scoreboard until the sixth.
• CSU got on the scoreboard with an unearned run in that sixth inning. Carsten Sandvig doubled with one out, and Charlee Yourman followed with a single. On the play, Sandvig advanced to third, but was able to score on an errant throw back to the infield.
• Yourman advanced to second on the play, but Krafcik fielded a ground ball and threw to first for the second out, then got a lazy fly ball for the third out.
• In the seventh, Maddie Lee was ruled safe at first after hitting a slow bouncer to Kaufman at short. But, after a challenge and review, the call was overturned, and Lee was ruled out. Krafcik induced another grounder to short and a fly ball to right to close out the win.

BGSU-CSU GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• At the plate in game two, BGSU drew a walk in each of the seven innings against CSU starter Kinsey Clopton, but Clopton was able to keep the Falcons off of the scoreboard for the first five frames.
• Hannah Simko walked on four pitches to begin the game, but a Peyton Steffes liner was hit directly at the shortstop, resulting in a double play. Taylor Behrendt then singled and Hannah Hunt was hit by a Clopton pitch, but a ground ball to short ended the half-inning.
• The Bucs took the lead in the second inning. Charlee Yourman led off with a single, and took third on a double by Emma Smith. Then, a ball up the middle by Harper Schoeneweis allowed her to reach base, plating a run, and a double-steal attempt scored another. Schoenweis advanced to third on a ground ball to the right side, and scored on another ground ball.
• In the third, Carsten Sandvig singled with two outs, then stole second. Yourman hit a liner to left-center, but Hanna Massaro made a diving catch to prevent a run from scoring and end the inning.
• Ava McKee was hit by a pitch with one out, and Sienna Hutchins walked with two down, but Clopton got a grounder to short to end the threat.
• In the fifth, Simko led off an inning with a walk for the third time in the game, and she took second when Hunt lined a ball up the middle that was knocked down by Clopton, resulting in a single. The runners moved to second and third, respectively, on a wild pitch, but Clopton struck out the next hitter to escape the jam.
• CSU scored another run in the fifth. Lorenzza Marcacci led off with a double down the line, took third on a sac bunt and scored on a ground ball to short.
• In the sixth, Ava McKee led off with a walk, and after Addie Martin's grounder resulted in a fielder's choice, Martin stole both second and third, before scoring when Massaro lined a ball over the left fielder's head for a two-out double.
• The Bucs threatened in the sixth, on singles by Smith and Schoeneweis. But, with runners at second and third, BG pitcher Madison Wendel got an inning-ending ground ball to short.
• In the seventh, Katie Hutter drew a one-out, pinch-hit walk, and Behrendt's sharp single put runners at first and second. A grounder produced the second out and placed runners at the corners, and pinch-runner Izzy Ray stole second. But, Clopton got a game-ending strikeout on her 157th pitch of the evening.

UP NEXT
• The Falcons and Buccaneers will wrap up their weekend series with a single game on Saturday (March 7), with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m. at the CSU Softball Complex.

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.