BGSU baseball (8-5, 2-0) continued their opening Mid-American Conference (MAC) series with an 8-6 win over Ohio (3-10, 0-2) on Saturday.
The Falcons gave deja vu to many fans who watched their last game against Ohio by having another electric eighth inning, landing BGSU with their second win in conference play.
The Falcons have won their first conference series in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2018-19 and are 2-0 in MAC play in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05.
Starting left-handed pitcher Nic Good had a shaky first inning for the Falcons, allowing two hits in the first two at-bats.
However, Good redeemed himself quickly by picking off one of the runners in the inning to prevent the Bobcats from scoring.
Ohio got their offense rolling in the second inning when outfielder Pauly Mancino sent one passed the infield to score the quick catcher Jackson Cauthron from second base, giving the Bobcats a 1-0 lead.
Later, BGSU sophomore catcher Garret Wright threw out an Ohio runner in the third inning. Wright would continue to make defensive plays all game long, including multiple blocked passed balls and an athletic throwout to first from a bunt.
OU’s starting pitcher, Hudson Boncal, did his job through the first four innings.
The senior right-hander held the Falcons to one hit and two walks through 17 batters faced. Boncal would end his outing with three runs allowed on four hits in 6.2 innings.
BGSU reliever Jacob Turner made his way into the ball game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Turner would finish with two runs allowed on four hits in four innings.
The Orange and Brown sparked their offense in the fifth inning as junior Zach Horky nailed his first double of the season off the center field wall. Horky was placed into the lineup after starter Chase Chopin was injured diving back into first on a pickoff play earlier in the game.
BGSU junior infielder Sam Siedel drilled a hard-hit ball through the first and second base gap to score Horky from second, evening up the score at 1-1.
The Falcons got the sticks going once again in the seventh inning following a lineup change that sophomore infielder Garret Sloan into the batting order and leading off the inning. Sloan started the inning with a single into center field.
Sophomore Brady Birchmeier walked with bases loaded, and senior Caden Parker singled up the middle, scoring two in the seventh inning for the Falcons, giving BGSU their first lead of the game, 3-1.
The Bobcats would respond quickly after Matt Ineich sent a ball over the left field wall for a two-run home run, tying the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Falcons broke the game open in the eighth inning for the second straight game, scoring five runs in the top of the inning. Siedel would match the Ineich home run with a two-run shot of his own.
Birchmeier followed up Siedel with a three-run home run, easily clearing the center field wall and scoreboard, giving the Falcons an 8-3 lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Bobcats would not go out without a fight, scoring three in the bottom of the eighth. Dylan Shepherd doubled to right field, and Mancino singled up the middle to help the cause for OU.
However, Bowling Green still led 8-6 heading into the ninth inning.
Senior right-hander Connar Penrod contributed with 1.2 scoreless innings for the Orange and Brown to close out the game, going three up, three down in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Penrod secured his second straight and third overall save of the season. The Wauseon, Ohio, native has struck out 16 while not allowing a run in 8.1 innings this season.
BGSU continued to be resilient all game long, ending with 11 hits, five of them coming with two outs. The Orange and Brown’s impressive eighth inning created four of the five two-out hits.
The Falcons will finish their trip in Athens with one final game against Ohio University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Following the wrap-up of the weekend trip, the Orange and Brown will return to Bowling Green for their home opener against Tiffin at Steller Field on Tuesday at 3 p.m. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Tyler Kavalecz and Noah Seeley will be on the first call of the season on WBGU 88.1 FM, beginning at 2:40 p.m. for pregame.
