There’s something about the start of conference play that gets BGSU going.
After winning their first 17 conference games last season, shattering numerous records and grabbing national attention, the Falcons have swept their first two Mid-American Conference (MAC) series and are on a 10-game winning streak for the first time in 15 years.
“Continues to put the current players where they want to be, which is amongst some of the best to ever come through this program as a team,” head coach Kyle Hallock said.
The Falcons most recently won both non-conference midweek games, defeating Purdue Fort Wayne 19-18 on Tuesday and Dayton 11-9 on Wednesday.
The major story this season has been Bowling Green’s fight and ability to make late-game comebacks. The Falcons are a jarring 5-3 when trailing after the sixth inning and 5-4 when trailing after the seventh.
“We’ve built a reputation of it’s not over for us until you get the 27th out on us,” Hallock said.
Bowling Green has not flinched in any of their comeback wins, staying composed the entire way and catching fire in the final three innings.
“Being confident with our approach, sticking to our plan and not pressing,” junior infielder Sam Seidel said. “Knowing that they have to go 27 outs with us and there’s no time limit, so just being confident in that.”
The Orange and Brown’s late-game magic was on full display against Purdue Fort Wayne. The Falcons trailed by as many as seven runs, including facing an 11-5 deficit heading into the sixth inning. However, they scored 14 runs in the final four frames to get the win.
“I’ve been part of a lot of teams as a player and as a coach, and just the flow of the game said this should’ve been Purdue Fort Wayne’s,” Hallock said. “I don’t know that I’ve been part of a team as a player or a coach in a dugout that wins this game over then this group right here.”
Seidel delivered the game-winning hit for the Falcons against the Mastodons.
“Coach always says just keep trying to win one pitch at a time. Don’t make it anything other than that,” Seidel said. “When you stack all those up at the end of the game, the scoreboard should be in your favor.”
After a slow start to the season, Seidel has heated up, hitting .450 (9-20) over the past four games, with three runs batted in (RBI), four walks and just two strikeouts.
“We’re about at the halfway point, and he’s just such a talented player that you knew he’d have an explosive type game,” Hallock said. “To get him going is really important to our offense; it just lengthens what we try to do and how well we try to do it.”
Another player who was key in the win over Purdue Fort Wayne was sophomore outfielder TJ Takats. He scored the game-tying run, scoring from first to third on a check swing single by sophomore catcher/outfielder Garrett Wright, sliding under the tag at home plate after the throw beat him by a good 15-plus feet.
“It was a great slide. I mean, TJ Takats has a very high baseball IQ,” Hallock said. “Garrett Wright kind of hitting an oops single/double down the right field line, and TJ’s athleticism to be able to score from first is eventually why, down the road, he’s going to play professional baseball.”
Takats was moved into the leadoff spot for both midweek games and delivered, hitting 4-9 with six runs scored, four RBI, a double and two home runs.
“I think TJ Takats is a special player. He’s going to go down, when his career is over here, as one of the best to ever wear the uniform. He’s growing up game for game, right before our eyes,” Hallock said. “Sophomore by grade, but playing like a junior and senior right now. Putting him in the leadoff spot, we just wanted him to get out there and set the tone for our lineup.”
A player who has been dominant all season for Bowling Green is senior closer Connar Penrod.
Penrod is tied for third in the nation with five saves and has not given up a run in 11 innings pitched this season. He has 21 strikeouts to five walks and has allowed just one extra-base hit.
Penrod has either a save or a win in six straight appearances and seven of his eight outings this season.
“Connar Penrod, he’s one of a kind. They don’t make them like that,” Hallock said. “He must be living right or have some really good karma because he’s either getting a win or save every time.”
The most impressive part of the past two wins for the Falcons is they did it without sophomore first baseman Brady Birchmeier, who leads the MAC with 29 RBIs.
“Just shows you the depth of this group,” Hallock said. “You can plug someone in there for a guy who’s got 29 RBIs and still score 18 runs and 11 runs. It says something about who we have and the type of players they are.”
There seems to be something special brewing at Steller Field in Bowling Green, Ohio, for the second straight year.
“Really special [team]. That’s the first thing I’ll say,” sophomore infielder Garrett Sloan said. “This team really is a team, like we’re all bought in just collectively, one pitch at a time. Everyone’s doing their job, regardless of what it is.”
Next up for the Falcons is a three-game weekend series against Kent State, Hallock’s alma matter and the first team to defeat Bowling Green in a conference series last year. With a sweep of the Golden Flashes, BGSU could tie the program record for longest winning streak at 13 games, which was set in 1976.
“Be ourselves. Do what we do, play our game,” Hallock said. “Let the scoreboard dictate the outcome based on the things we do really well; don’t change.”
