Bloomington, Ind- BGSU softball found themselves in a doubleheader matchup on Saturday in the Hoosier Classic, with the first game against IU Indy and then a rematch of Friday night’s game against Indiana.
The Falcons would ultimately win the first game 7-2 and could not redeem themselves in the second game against Indiana, taking the loss 12-3. This makes Bowling Green’s (5-15) overall record for the year.
Game One: Bowling Green vs. IU Indianapolis
In this matchup, we will see BGSU’s Alyvia Roth on the mound against IU Indy’s Clara Phariiss, with Scarlet Anderson securing the victory and Clara taking the loss. Roth pitched for 2.0 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, and one earned run, in addition to three walks and one strikeout. Scarlet Anderson replaced her and did not allow a run, effectively stopping the Jags’ offense for the remainder of the game.
Utility player Tori Candler of the Jags opened the scoring with a single to right field, enabling Molly Kable to score 1-0. However, this lead was short-lived as BGSU third baseman Addie Martin hit a home run in the bottom of the first with one runner on base, giving the Falcons a 2-1 advantage.
As the second inning progressed, the Falcons’ offense kept adding points. Katie Hutter hit a triple to right center, scoring another run to make it 3-1. Later in the same inning, Martin maintained her strong performance with an RBI flyout to right, allowing Hutter to score and increasing the score to 4-1.
Addie would have finished the first game with a home run and three RBIs, generating most of the offense for the Falcons and becoming the star of this match.
IU Indy managed only one additional run-off Roth before she was replaced, while Candler maintained her strong performance. The Jags hit a single through the right side, allowing Morgan Gilbert to score 4-2, but this would be the final point of the game for them.
Lastly, Hannah Hunt and Peyton Steffes of Bowling Green aimed to provide their team with a more comfortable lead while joining the run action. Hunt drove in two runs 6-2, and Steffes contributed one 7-2, aiding the Falcons in securing victory in the third game of the Hoosier Classic.
Game Two: Bowling Green vs. Indiana
Bowling Green’s pitching couldn’t handle the bats of the Hoosiers.
It all started with a disastrous second inning, leading to pitcher Madi Young going only 1.1 innings and giving up five hits that accumulated into five runs. Sydney Marshall came in relief, but the results were the same, as she gave up 2 hits and three earned runs, putting the Falcons behind early in the game by eight.
The offense would come from many in Indiana’s heart of the lineup as they continue to be one of the best-hitting softball teams in the country.
Indiana freshman pitcher Jasmine Reyes would get into a jam with the Falcons lineup in third as BGSU bats come alive to cut down the lead from 8-0 to 8-3.
The scoring came from the red-hot bat of Addie Martin, as today was her day. She homered again, just like she had earlier in the day. Shortly after, Hannah Hunt got on base and scored when Taylor Behrendt flew out to right field in the third inning.
At the top of the fourth, Marshall was pulled as she could not settle down the IU lineup after giving up two more runs, causing both pitchers to struggle to contain this lineup. This allowed BGSU to attempt to generate more offense but ultimately failed. Scarlet Anderson would come in again today to try to stop the bleeding.
But Anderson would follow in her fellow pitcher’s footsteps, giving up more runs to this potent lineup. With the score at 12- 3 in the fourth, the mercy rule eventually came into play, and the game ended in the fifth inning.
The loss would go to Young for BGSU, making her record this year 0-2, and the win would go to Reyes, who went 6-2 on the year.
Bowling Green in the Hoosier Classic finished with a 2-2 record in this tournament but is looking to rebound in the first MAC battle against the Buffalo Bulls next weekend starting Friday, March 14 in Buffalo, New York.
