CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS- For the final time before Mid-American Conference (MAC) play begins, the Falcon baseball team (4-4) took a road trip to Carbondale, Illinois for their final non-conference series against Southern Indiana (6-3) and Southern Illinois (6-3).
The Orange and Brown are coming off of an 8-7 loss in 10 innings against Southern Indiana yesterday, but there was a bright spot with star two-way senior DJ Newman’s return to the bump for the first time since April 13, 2024. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Chas McNeil had the full recap of that game, available here.
Senior right-hander Landon Willeman (0-0) got the start for the Falcons, his third of the year. Coming off of a no-decision (4.0 innings, two hits, one run, three walks, and two strikeouts) against USC Upstate, he looked to build off that against the Southern Illinois Salukis.
The Bowling Green bats got off to a slow start, with sophomore left-fielder Garrett Wright recording a single, which was not just the only hit for the Falcons through the first two innings, but it also extended his hitting streak to seven games and his on-base streak to 16 games, stretching back to last season. It was the same story on the opposite side of the scorebook, with Saluki centerfielder Jordan Bach recording the only hit for Southern Illinois through the first four frames.
In the third, the Falcon offense was able to turn senior right-fielder Caden Parker’s lead-off single into the first run of the game, by way of senior shortstop Gunner Antillion’s hit by pitch, a Garrett Wright sacrifice bunt and a perfectly placed ground ball to the second baseman by junior designated hitter DJ Newman.
In the fourth, the Falcon offense showed some signs of life with junior second baseman Sam Seidel smoking a double to center field, but Saluki starting pitcher, senior left-hander Alec Nigut, was able to retire junior catcher Cooper McKenzie and sophomore third baseman Garrett Sloan with a groundout and a fly-out, respectively. This gave the Southern Illinois offense the momentum that they needed, and the Saluki’s were able to capitalize on redshirt senior third baseman Matt Schark’s hit-by-pitch, a walk by senior catcher Mason Schwalbach, and a sacrifice line-out by junior right fielder Kristian Sprawling to square the game up at 1-1.
The next frame and a half were largely uneventful, but in the bottom of the sixth, BGBB head coach, Kyle Hallock pulled Landon Willeman in favor of freshman right-hander Carrson Sova, and Willeman’s day was over with a final line of 5.0 innings, two hits, one run, three walks, four strikeouts, and 87 pitches. The Saluki’s were quickly able to jump on Sova and extended their lead by one-off Matt Schark’s leadoff double and would eventually come around to score on a 5-4 fielder’s choice by Kristian Sprawling. Sova would only last one inning, with a final line of 1.0 innings, one run, one hit, two walks, and one strikeout.
The Orange and Brown would go down in order in the top of the seventh, but BGSU head coach Kyle Hallock would again make a pitching change for the bottom half of the seventh, tapping on redshirt freshman righty, Nate Kress. Kress got through the seventh with ease, punching out two and only allowing a baserunner on yet another Matt Schark hit-by-pitch.
Southern Illinois’ head coach Lance Rhodes tapped on junior lefty Gavan Wernsing to begin the eighth, ending Alec Nigut’s day, with a final line of 7.0 innings, four hits, one run, no walks, four strikeouts, and 96 pitches. Seeing the new arm, the Falcon offense was able to threaten with a Garrett Wright triple, but he would get cut down at home on a 3-2 fielder’s choice by sophomore centerfielder TJ Takats.
After escaping the top half of the eighth, the Saluki’s smelled the Falcon blood in the water and immediately extended their lead to 4-1 with back-to-back home runs by junior second baseman Gabe Petrucelli and junior pinch-hitter John Lemm.
The Falcons would go down quietly in the top half of the ninth and would fall to Southern Illinois 4-1. Saluki starting pitcher Alec Nigut would get the win, bringing him to 3-0, Gavin Wernsing had the second save of his season, and Falcon reliever Carrson Sova would record the first loss of the young season.
The Falcons have a quick turnaround, and will play Southern Indiana at 5:00 p.m., followed by a single Sunday game against Southern Illinois tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Noah Seeley will have the recap following the 5:00 game today, and Tyler Kavalecz will have the happenings of the final game of the weekend.
