BGSU baseball (4-3) suffered their second loss in a row, after failing to close out a 7-0 lead in the first game of four games in Carbondale, Ill.
The biggest addition that was unveiled during BGSU’s 8-7 loss to the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles (6-2) was junior two-way player DJ Newman, who returned to the mound for the first time since April 13, 2024.
While he has batted so far this season, Friday’s game marked the first time pitching in 2025, and Newman started strong, going 4.0 innings, allowing five hits for no runs, no walks, and four strikeouts, resulting in a 0.00 earned run average (ERA).
For the Orange and Brown, that four-inning stretch would fuel the offense with six of the team’s seven total runs being scored in the first four innings.
Senior outfielder Caden Parker would have his first true highlight of the season, smacking a single to right center field that would bring home sophomore infielder Brady Birchmeier and Newman, resulting in a two-run moment.
Bowling Green would look strong past the halfway mark of the game, shooting out to a score of 7-2 heading into the sixth.
After the fifth inning concluded, it was clear that the wheels of the bullpen were starting to come off when senior right-hander Logan Bell stepped onto the mound and, in only one-third of an inning, gave up three hits and three runs, all earned, resulting in a 32.40 ERA.
From this point, the Screaming Eagles found themselves in a favorable position and managed to push even with the Orange and Brown 7-7 with a runner on second base in the bottom of the ninth.
In came sophomore right-handed pitcher Owen Poole, who managed to force a double play with one out to extend the life of his team.
This second wind would not last long for the Falcons, who were unable to touch second base for the entirety of the tenth, setting up for Southern Indiana’s junior infielder Cole Kitchens’s heroic solo home run that would clinch the comeback for the Screaming Eagles.
Although the Falcons did come out of the gates hot, their quick stop caused Southern Indiana to win the match as well as key categories such as batting average (0.351)-(0.282), strikes (122)-(110), and putouts (30)-(27).
The next test for BGSU is a two-game doubleheader Saturday, March 1, against Southern Illinois at 1 p.m. and a rematch against Southern Indiana at 5 p.m.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Coyle Withrow and Noah Seely will have games one and two respectively on Saturday.
