BGSU softball (1-1) entered the Spartan Classic in Spartanburg, South Carolina with optimism of the season ahead, and although disaster struck early in the day, the Falcons got redemption only a couple hours later, following a 6-4 loss in game one against USC Upstate (2-0) with a 5-2 victory over Monmouth (0-2) in game two.
The Falcons scored at least four runs in both opening-day doubleheader matchups, a mark that last year’s team only reached twice in their 18 doubleheaders of 2024.
Third baseman Addie Martin led the offensive charge for the Falcons, going 2-3 with an RBI in game one before hitting a crucial first-career home run that put the Falcons even with the Hawks in the first inning of game two.
Falcon pitchers Scarlet Anderson and Alyvia Roth threw 3.1 and 3.2 innings respectively with two earned runs each in the game two victory over Monmouth while Anderson through 3.1 more innings in the second half of game one, giving up one earned run on two hits and a strikeout.
BGSU finishes the day at 1-1 for the third straight season as they look ahead at a mirrored schedule of games on Saturday before taking on Akron in a Spartan Classic conclusion on Sunday.
Game One: BGSU vs USC Upstate
The Falcons started the season off right with a hit from center fielder Peyton Steffes, allowing her to steal second on the next pitch.
Steffes was called out on interference after she collided with the Spartan shortstop in a play that was called runner interference, sending her back to the dugout and ultimately ending the first half inning of 2025.
The Spartans would strike first in the bottom of the second on a double down the left field line by first baseman Carson Shaw that snuck just far enough down the lint to allow the throw to catch the runner at home was just late, allowing USC Upstate to go up 1-0 early.
The onslaught would continue with catcher Abigail Pippen’s second home run in as many games that put the Spartans up 5-0 and sent freshman starting pitcher Morgan Beckham out of the game in favor of the senior Anderson only a batter later.
Anderson would hold her own, throwing 3.1 innings of one-run ball with a walk and a strikeout, setting the stage for one last shot at an Orange and Brown comeback.
Although freshman pitcher Sophia Kardatzke took a complete game shutout in the seventh, she couldn’t get the last three outs, allowing freshman right fielder Hanna Massaro to hit her first career home run and sending head coach Chris Hawkins out to the mound to put in Sierra Maness, 2024 member of the Big South All-Conference Second Team.
After allowing Martin to send an RBI single through the infield and a wild pitch that scored Martin from third, Maness shut down Anderson, handing BGSU their first loss of 2024 and earning the Spartans their second win of the season with both coming against Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents.
Game Two: BGSU vs Monmouth
After the Hawks started off by scoring two runs off the starter Roth, The Falcons retaliated in the bottom of the first with Martin’s two-run home run, her first of 2025 and the first of her career, bringing the Falcons even at 2-2.
Designated player Katie Hutter gave the Falcons a 3-2 lead with her first hit and first home run of the season in the bottom of the second, giving Roth the confidence she needed to throw 2.1 scoreless innings after her troublesome first.
Anderson would come on for her second appearance of the day after a wild pitch that scored Martin from second and an RBI double by shortstop Cameron Kaufman that put the Falcons up 5-2. The senior pitcher threw three scoreless innings, setting up a ninth-inning where the Falcons would control their destiny.
Anderson would allow four hits and a walk that generated two Monmouth runs, but a line-out by second baseman Bri Lawson would end the top of the seventh and earn the Falcons their first win of 2025.
The Falcons take on Monmouth once again for game one of the doubleheaders on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 12:30 p.m. before taking on USC Upstate for game two at 3 p.m. and rounding out the tournament against Akron on Sunday, Feb 9. at 10 a.m.
