Falcons Claim Both Ends Of Friday Doubleheader To Complete Weekend Sweep

Friday, April 3

Bowling Green, Ohio

1 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

10-17, 6-8

Akron

13-16, 5-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Akron	2	2	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	8	13	1
Bowling Green	0	3	0	0	0	5	0	1	X	9	8	1

Alex Laird Steals Home vs. Akron -- April 3, 2026

Photo by: Hailey Pettit-Mastroianni, BGSU Athletics

Falcons Claim Both Ends Of Friday Doubleheader To Complete Weekend Sweep

April 03, 2026 | Baseball

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Laird Swipes Seven Stolen Bases To Set Program And MAC Single-Game Records, One Shy Of NCAA Mark

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University baseball team secured the series sweep over the Akron Zips, taking both games of Friday's (April 3) doubleheader. The Falcons battled back in the first game from a 4-0 deficit to eventually snag a 9-8 victory. As for the second game, the BGSU offense again tallied nine runs, this time in a 9-6 final for the doubleheader and series sweeps. The sweep marks the first of the season for the Falcons and pushes their MAC record to 7-8.

In the first game, the Falcons were sparked by the power bats of Brayden Curlis and Zack Horky, combining for two home runs and five RBI in the sixth inning. As for the second game, it was Alex Laird's speed that led the way, stealing a program and MAC record seven bases, including home, to aid BGSU in the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 1

Akron scored two in both the first and second innings for a 4-0 lead
The first BGSU hit of the day started off the bottom of the second with a Brayden Curlis double to left. A single by Lance Vickers put runners at the corners before an Alex Laird walk loaded the bases. Zack Horky came through with a single past the shortstop to score both Curlis and Vickers.
In the next at-bat, Griffin Scheiderer laid down a bunt single to load the bases again with Laird scoring later in the inning on a grounder for a 4-3 score through two innings.
Akron added two runs in the fifth inning to push their lead to 6-3.
TJ Takats drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the sixth, setting up a Curlis two-run home run to left center, cutting the score down to 6-5.
Vickers kept it going with a single to center followed by Laird being hit by a pitch to force a pitching change by Akron. Horky welcomed the new arm with a three-run homer to straightaway center to put the Falcons in front 8-6.
Akron tallied two in the eighth inning to knot it up again, 8-8.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth Carter Mottice drew a walk. Sam Seidel came through with a single to right to advance Mottice. An error on the relay in from right on the Seidel knock was enough to score Mottice for a 9-8 BGSU lead.

STAT LEADERS, GAME 1

Titus Lotz: W (1-2), 1 H, 0 R/ER, 2 K
Zack Horky: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 1 R
Brayden Curlis: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
Lance Vickers: 2-for-4, 1 R
Griffin Scheiderer: 1-for-3
Sam Seidel: 1-for-5

HOW IT HAPPENED, GAME 2

Akron scored a run in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
The Falcons answered in the bottom half of the inning. Carter Mottice and Sam Seidel began with back-to-back walks with both moving up on a double steal. Later in the inning Brayden Curlis doubled to right, scoring both Mottice and Seidel for a 2-1 BGSU lead.
To begin the bottom of the second Alex Laird legged out a bunt single. He stole second, third, and then home to make it a 3-1 BGSU advantage.
Akron scored twice in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3.
Zack Horky got the bottom of the fourth started with a ground-rule double to left. Laird drew a walk with both runners moving up on a double steal. Pauly Mancino lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Horky. Later in the inning a bloop single by Mottice brought home Laird for a 5-3 score.
Akron added two more in the fifth inning to tie it again at 5-5.
The back-and-forth continued in the bottom of the fifth. Andrew DiLodovico and Curlis led off with back-to-back singles followed by a Vickers walk to load the bases. A ball in play off the bat of Horky scored DiLodovico before a wild pitch brought home Curlis for a 7-5 lead.
Akron again tallied one run in the sixth to cut the deficit down to 7-6.
In the seventh inning, Horky singled up the middle before stealing second. Laird then singled up the middle as well with Horky scoring on a throwing error. Laird stayed hot on the bases, stealing second and third to set up another sacrifice fly from Mancino for a 9-6 score through seven innings.

STAT LEADERS, GAME 2

Andrew Heffernan: W (1-4), 4 H, 1 R/ER, 3 K
Alex Laird: 2-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 SB
Zack Horky: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 R, 1 RBI, SB
Brayden Curlis: 2-for-5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 R
Andrew DiLodovico: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 HBP
Carter Mottice: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB

FALCON STAT FACTS

Alex Laird stole seven bases for BGSU in the second game of the doubleheader, setting a new program record for steals in a single game. The record is also believed to be a MAC record and is only one short of the NCAA record, currently set at eight.
As a team, the Falcons tallied 12 stolen bases in the second game with Laird's seven leading the way. It marks the second time this year BGSU has had eight or more after swiping eight against Tiffin on March 24. The 12 are the most in over 25 seasons with BGSU's available game-by-game team stats dating back to 2001 without a game of eight stolen bases or more. However, BGSU's stolen bases record is set at 27 from April 22, 1921 against Findlay.
Andrew DiLodovico was hit by three pitches between the two games, giving him five for the series. Two came in the first game of the doubleheader and one in the second while adding a pair of hits as well. For DiLodovico, the bruises extended his on-base streak, now at a team-leading 12 games.
Brayden Curlis stayed hot at the plate for the Falcons with a pair of two-hit games, as well as his third home run of the season. Curlis now has a four-game hitting streak and a base hit in seven of the last eight games. During that eight-game span, he's 12-for-28 (.429) with nine RBI, seven runs scored, four doubles and two home runs.
Zack Horky followed suit with his third-straight two-hit game for the Falcons, including a team-leading five RBI in the first game to become the first player for BGSU this season with five or more RBI in a contest. Horky added a home run as well, his fourth of the year.
In both games, the Falcons had their starting pitcher log at least five strikeouts. In the first game of the day, Carrson Sova sent down five Zips on strikes over 4.2 innings. As for the second game, Jackson Miller struck out a career-high six in just 3.2 innings of work.
In the second game, Andrew Heffernan came in from the bullpen and orchestrated 4.2 innings on the mound, giving up just one run. The effort earned Heffernan the win, his first as a Falcon.
With the pair of wins, the Falcons secured their first series sweep of the season. BGSU has now won 10 straight against Akron with the streak starting on March 19, 2023.

UP NEXT
Bowling Green will head on the road for their next contest, taking on Ohio State in Columbus on Tuesday (April 7) for a 6 p.m. first pitch. The Falcons will return home the next day on April 8 to host Lourdes in a 6 p.m. start as well. Any schedule changes will be announced on BGSUFalcons.com as well as Twitter/X (@BGSU_Baseball).

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