BGSU softball (9-18, 3-2 MAC) entered Friday’s doubleheader against the Kent State University Golden Flashes (7-21, 0-5 MAC) looking to build momentum in conference play.
After splitting their past home-opener doubleheader earlier in the week against Green Bay, the Falcons picked up two wins and secured their first at-home series win.
“Today we got over the hump and found a way to get a W,” said head coach Michelle Gardner. “To take the series I am happy, I want to sweep, but we took the series.”
Game 1: Falcons Run Past Kent State Through Six Innings
The first game of the day started strong for the Falcons.
Bowling Green stacked up the runs through six innings, starting in the first with a three-run bottom of the first. Sophomore Peyton Steffes got things going, driving in two runs with a triple to deep right after two walks prior. Junior Hannah Hunt followed, drawing a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0 Falcons after one.
The scoring continued in the second as Bowling Green showed even more efficiency at the plate. Sophomore Taylor Behrendt stepped up with a two-run single to right, extending the lead to 5-0.
Moments later, junior catcher Ashley Chevalier delivered with the bases loaded, sending a single to center-right to plate two more and push the Falcons’ lead to 7-0.
Both teams went quiet through the third and fourth innings, but that didn’t stop junior pitcher Mackenzie Krafcik from putting on a show in the circle. She stayed locked in, keeping Kent State off the scoreboard while BGSU maintained control.
The Golden Flashes broke through in the fifth, taking advantage of a defensive miscue to plate two unearned runs.
However, the Falcons responded immediately. RS-Freshman Addie Martin put the Falcons back on track with a two-run shot to left in the bottom of the fifth, giving Bowling Green a 9-2 advantage.
The Falcons capped things off in the sixth when Steffes tagged and scored on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by freshman Hanna Massaro, securing the 10-2 win in six innings.
Krafcik was stellar, tossing a complete game while allowing no earned runs on seven hits. She struck out three and issued zero walks.
Steffes led the charge offensively, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Martin added a double, a homer, and two RBIs, while Chevalier and Behrendt each contributed key hits in the strong victory.
Game 2: BGSU Finds a Golden Opportunity with a Seventh-Inning Comeback
The second game of the evening was much more of a chess match for the first few innings than the game prior.
Both teams scored in the first inning.
Kent State capitalized on a wild pitch after a fielder’s choice to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Falcons responded immediately as Martin singled and stole second, eventually coming around to score on a bases-loaded walk by Steffes to tie the game at 1-1.
Kent State maintained steady pressure as the innings progressed, retaking the lead in the third inning with a two-out double by senior Delaney Robeson.
Bowling Green managed to keep the deficit manageable, stranding runners in key moments.
The Falcons set the game back equal in the bottom of the fifth as Behrendt hit a clutch two-run single, driving in junior Katie Hutter and Martin, knotting the game at 3-3.
The Golden Flashes were on the brink of closing out the game in the sixth, taking advantage of a Bowling Green fielding error and adding three runs to their tally.
Kent State’s 6-3 lead held strong going into the seventh inning, but the Falcons had other plans.
With the top of the order due in the seventh, Behrendt led off by reaching on an error and advancing to second. Hunt delivered with an RBI single to cut the deficit to two. Steffes followed up with another single, putting runners at the corners.
With the crowd on edge, Steffes stole second, and freshman Ava McKee stepped to the plate. McKee hit a line-drive single to right, driving in both Hunt and Steffes to tie the game at 6-6.
The momentum had fully swung to Bowling Green as junior Delaney Davis, who had entered the game earlier, came through in the clutch.
Davis drove a double to right-center, allowing pinch-runner freshman Reghan Stephany to cross the plate with the game-winning run, giving the Falcons a dramatic 7-6 comeback victory.
“Coach [Tegan Cortelletti] just told me to go swing the bat and to stick to myself and get on base.” said Davis.
Krafcik secured her second win of the day in relief, shutting down Kent State’s offense in the final frame and ensuring the Falcons completed the sweep. The win marked BGSU’s third conference victory, matching the previous season’s MAC win total.
The Falcons and Golden Flashes will conclude their weekend series on Saturday, March 22, at 2:00 p.m. at Meserve Field.
