You know what they say: It’s better to finish strong and win than start hot and lose. The Falcons have been a shining example of that, taking the lead in the eighth inning in each of their last four contests. 

This then begs the question, is this a sustainable way to win and compete in baseball games? The answer is honestly more complicated than you might think. 

Yes, the last-second comebacks are not the best for the average Falcon fan’s heart, but at the end of the day, the Orange and Brown are 3-0 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and first in the conference due to last-second comebacks. 

One aspect that may put a BGSU fan’s worries at ease is the fact that over the past four games, seven different Falcons made massive plays in the eighth and ninth innings to stretch BG’s winning streak to five games. 

The most welcoming sight over the past week was the resurgence of junior infielder Sam Seidel, who started the season relatively quietly with eight hits in the month of February but has already tallied seven hits, including three home runs since the start of March. 

Another aspect that is a bright spot for the Orange and Brown is the current strategy going on in the catcher’s room. 

It’s no secret that all three of BGSU’s main catchers can mash a baseball, but one of the biggest surprises so far this season has been the placement of catchers in the outfield as a way to get those big bats together in the batting order. 

In two separate games against the Ohio Bobcats last weekend, junior catchers Zach Horky and Cooper Mckenzie took part in eighth-inning comebacks and were massive pieces of BGSU’s offense. 

There was even a game on Tuesday against the Tiffin Dragons in the Falcons home opener that saw all three of BG’s catchers start, with Horky, McKenzie and sophomore Garrett Wright all landing in the starting lineup. 

With all of the batting consistency, all BGSU needs is for their pitching to hold strong, and it does just that on the back of a bullpen that is experienced and ready for action. 

The key to this bullpen has been senior righthander Connar Penrod, who is developing into a top closer at the MAC. 

In two games of the Falcon’s weekend series against the Ohio Bobcats, Penrod allowed zero hits or runs with two walks in 3.2 total innings of work to clutch out wins for BGSU. 

In his last three games, Penrod also has tallied three straight saves, proving that he can hold down an opponent’s offense while he thrives. 

So, to answer the question at the top of this bulletin, it’s hard to tell if the high-scoring eighth innings are here to stay, but if they are, then BGSU is in good hands. 

With an offense that can hold it’s own late in games you have proof that your heavy hitters won’t disappear on you late in the year, that, paired with a top-tier closer, means that BG has found a winning formula that can consistently be replicated.  

Now, if these late-game comebacks do become a standard, you may be entitled to a school-appointed cardiologist, but when it comes to winning and doing that consistently, it seems like the Falcons are in a good spot.