MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University softball team gave league-leading Central Michigan University a battle again on Wednesday, but the hosts were able to pick up a pair of wins. CMU emerged victorious by scores of 5-1 and 5-0 in Mid-American Conference action at Margo Jonker Stadium.
After getting just one hit in Tuesday’s series opener, the Falcons (8-36, 1-23 MAC) had three hits in the first inning of Wednesday’s first game, taking a 1-0 lead in the process. But, the Chippewas (27-19, 17-6 MAC) countered with two runs in the second inning and an unearned marker in the fourth to take a two-run lead.
The nightcap saw BGSU starter Madi Young allow just one run and four hits through four innings, before the hosts pulled away late. Grace Lehto, who blanked the Falcons on Tuesday, threw another shutout for the Chippewas in Wednesday’s second game, scattering six total baserunners.
BGSU-CMU GAME ONE – HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Falcons took an early lead, with three first-inning singles against CMU starter Kaitlyn Bean. Peyton Dolejs led off the game with a base hit to right, and took second on Reagan Williamson’s one-out single to left. Katie Hutter followed with a hit of her own, bringing Dolejs around to put BG on the board.
• Hannah Davies worked around a two-out infield error in the bottom of the first, inducing a fly ball that retired the side.
• Sophie Weber robbed Skylar Coberley of a hit to begin the Chippewa second, diving to her left to grab the ball on a hop, then firing to Ally Bezjak at first in time. Lucy Cronin then walked, and Emily Bracamonte’s ground-rule double to right sent Cronin to third with two outs. Maddie Springer followed with a base hit to center that scored both runners.
• The Chippewas added an unearned run in the fourth. After a two-out infield error, Bracamonte doubled to allow Samantha Mills to come around and score, making it a 3-1 game.
• Central missed a golden opportunity to extend the lead in the fifth. The hosts loaded the bases with one out, but Mackenzie Krafcik entered the circle and struck out Skylar Coberley on three pitches, then got Cronin to hit a grounder to the left side. Weber made the stop and threw out Cronin by a step to end the inning. Krafcik threw six pitches – all strikes – in the inning.
• Meanwhile, though, after allowing four BG baserunners in the first inning, Bean then retired 13 Falcons in a row. She had hit Hannah Hunt with a pitch with two down in that opening inning, then did not led another BGSU batter reach base until Wynnie Reid led off the sixth inning with a single through the right side of the infield. Reid advanced as far as third base, but with runners at the corners after a two-out walk to Hutter, Bean escaped the inning with a fly ball to center.
• CMU added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Mills led off with a double, and Springer had a one-out RBI single. Later in the inning, Springer would score on a Kelsey Alexander hit to cap the scoring.
• Springer drove in three runs in the opener. Bracamonte, like Springer, went 2-for-3 in the contest, and both of Bracamonte’s hits were doubles.
• Hutter walked and singled for the Falcons, with Dolejs, Reid and Williamson also picking up hits.
BGSU-CMU GAME TWO – HOW IT HAPPENED
• In the second game, the Chippewas loaded the bases in the first inning, on a pair of singles and a two-out walk. But, Falcon starter Madi Young got Cronin to ground out to Weber at third.
• The Falcons got a pair of second-inning runners, as Weber reached on an error and Madison Lenig drew a walk, but Central starter Grace Lehto bounced back with a strikeout.
• CMU got on the board in the bottom of the second, as Abbey Tolmie’s two-out single plated Mills, who had led off the frame with a base hit.
• In the third, Young retired the 3-4-5 hitters in order, striking out two hitters before getting a ground ball back to the circle.
• The fifth inning saw Lenig walk for the second time in as many trips. Delaney Davis reached on a two-out error, but Lehto escaped the jam by getting a fly ball to center.
• CMU added to the lead in the bottom of the inning, as Alexander hit a roller down the left-field line and slid into second with a double. She scored on a single off the bat of Allyssa Hollo. Two batters later, Cronin’s single drove in another run.
• Reid led off the sixth inning with a single, for the Falcons’ first hit of the game, and Weber drew a two-out walk after a lengthy at-bat. A wild pitch put runners at second and third for the visitors, but Lehto got an inning-ending ground ball to second.
• Bracamonte began the Central sixth with a single, and would come around to score on a Tolmie double. Michaeleigh Vallimont followed with a bouncer up the middle that plated Tolmie. The Falcons then got an unconventional double play, as Alexander grounded into a force play, then was out herself as she rounded first and was tagged out trying to scramble back to the bag.
• Tolmie was 3-for-4 for the hosts in the win.
• Young pitched a complete game for the Falcons, allowing just one run and four hits through the first four innings before the Chippewas tacked on several late runs.
• Lehto picked up the shutout win for the hosts, walking three batters and striking out seven.
UP NEXT
• BGSU returns home to face Kent State in a three-game series this weekend. The Falcons will meet the Golden Flashes in a Saturday (April 29) doubleheader at Meserve Field. The opening game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with Senior Day festivities prior to first pitch.
• Then, the Orange and Brown will close the home schedule with a Sunday (April 30) single game vs. KSU. That contest will begin at 12:00 p.m. BG’s remaining schedule is below.
REMAINING REGULAR-SEASON SCHEDULE
• Saturday – KENT STATE – 1 p.m. (DH)
• Sunday – KENT STATE – noon.
• May 5 – at Northern Illinois – 4 p.m. – NIU All-Access
• Saturday, May 6 – at Northern Illinois – 2p.m. (DH) – NIU All-Access
HOME games at Meserve Field
