For the second series in a row, BGSU softball (12-18, 4-2 MAC) has swept an opponent, following their MAC three-game sweep of Kent State with a mid-week two-game doubleheader sweep of Youngstown State 7-4 and 12-4 (five innings).
Bowling Green led both games after the first inning, four runs on four hits in the first game and five runs on six hits in the second. The only time the Falcons trailed in either game was after the top of the first inning in the second contest, taking the lead back in only one out and six batters in the bottom of the same inning.
Youngstown State’s best inning was the fifth of the first game, with BGSU starter Mackenzie Krafcik earning two of her three earned runs in the three-score Penguin half. Krafcik exited the inning without recording an out, still credited for the win.
Freshman pitcher Morgan Beckham relieved Krafcik in the first game, throwing three innings perfect to grab the save. She earned a start in the second game, winning her second of the season amidst only two earned runs allowed.
Penguin pitchers struggled against a strong Falcon offense, with starters Kelsey Ogin and Maci Boggess combining for ten innings and 13 earned runs on 24 hits. YSU reliever Autumn Boyd pitched in the bottom of the fifth in the final game, recording one out, allowing three runs and a “walk-off” mercy-rule sacrifice fly.
Unlike the Penguins lineup, the Falcons gave their pitchers great run support. Katie Hutter stepped back into great hitting with her four-for-six at the plate, adding two walks, five runs and three RBIs. Second baseman Hannah Hunt also scorched the softball, getting four hits on seven at-bats, three RBIs and two runs scored.
In at catcher for the first time since Feb. 7, freshman Ava McKee was clutch with runners on. Her three hits on seven at-bats generated six Falcon runs, two she scored herself. With fellow freshman Hanna Massaro getting her only hit of the day in the final inning of play, every Falcon in the lineup came away with a hit.
A testament to the dominant offense, BGSU had seven players across the two games with multi-hit games. YSU had only three and no repeat run scorers in the same game.
Bowling Green, now 12-18 overall and 6-1 at home, heads into a difficult MAC opponent for their final three games of the home stand before an almost two-week road slate. The Ball State Cardinals come to town tied with BG for third in the MAC, with a 19-8 overall record.
All three games will be broadcast by Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak and Henry Kosko, Friday and Saturday on WBGU 88.1 FM.
