The Bowling Green baseball team (22-13, 17-2 MAC) dropped the series opener against Kent State (21-19, 11-8 MAC) on Friday Night, 6-5.
With their second straight loss, the Falcons are now in the midst of a conference play losing streak for the first time this season.
Kent State got on the board first in the bottom of the first, scoring on a hit-and-run play.
However, BGSU wasted no time responding. Senior outfielder Jack Krause launched a solo home run in the top of the second, tying the game at one apiece.
The Orange and Brown carried over the momentum and took their first lead of the game in the third inning. Sophomore two-way player DJ Newman and senior infielder Tyler Ross each drove in a run on a single and double, respectively, putting BG ahead 3-1.
Kent State scored another run in the bottom of the third to cut BG’s advantage to 3-2. The Falcons ended the inning with back-to-back outs at home, starting with relays from Krause and junior outfielder Caden Parker.
However, the Golden Flashes scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to jump out in front again, 4-3.
The Falcons once again had an answer. Krause scored Newman before Ross would later drive in senior outfielder Nathan Archer, giving BGSU a 5-4 lead.
But Kent State tied up the game with a two-out rally in the eighth inning before senior infielder Michael McNamara hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth to hand Bowling Green the loss.
BG senior pitcher Rigo Ramos started for the second straight Friday. The left-hander pitched 3.1 innings, allowing up four runs, six hits and four walks while striking out one.
Meanwhile, sophomore right-hander Perry Miller pitched 2.2 scoreless innings in relief.
While sophomore pitcher Jacob Turner and senior pitcher Peyton Wilson gave up a run out of the bullpen, Wilson took the loss, his second of the season.
Kent State junior pitcher Peyton Cariaco tossed 2.2 scoreless innings down the stretch, earning his fourth win.
After missing the past few games, sophomore infielder Sam Seidel returned to the lineup and tallied two hits, extending his on-base streak to 28 games this season and 39 games dating back to last season.
Newman tallied two hits, extending his hitting streak to a team-high 12 games.
Freshman catcher Garrett Wright also tallied a two-hit game, while Ross and Krause each drove in two runs.
Next, the Orange and Brown will continue their series against Kent State. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
