After a short break from conference play, BGSU softball (12-18, 4-2 MAC) will return to MAC play on Friday, March 28, at Meserve Field for the start of a three-game series versus the Ball State Cardinals (19-8, 4-2 MAC).
Following the game on Friday the two squads will go back-to-back in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29, Ben Corakand Henry Kosko will have the call for all three games on WBGU 88.1 FM.
Scouting the Falcons
Bowling Green is on a tear right now, winning their last five games and advancing to 12-18 on the season with a 4-2 conference record.
The offense has stayed strong for the Orange and Brown and the pitching has also improved to a 5.42 ERA, which although is higher than the team would hope, is much better than last year and earlier this season.
As a unit the Falcons are batting .286 so far this season placing them as the 7th best hitting team in the MAC. To go along with that the team has a total 139 RBIs with a .421 slugging percentage.
Scouting the Cardinals
Ball State is a very strong defensive team that can turn it on from the offensive side of things as well. The Cardinals have a conference record of 4-2 and an overall record of 19-8, winning versus Indiana State on the road 5-3.
The pitching staff for the team has a .391 ERA on the year which is the second best mark in the MAC. BSU also has the top ranked fielding team in the conference.
So far this season the Cardinals are batting .298 with the conference’s second-best slugging percentage of .499. Ball State has also batted in 179 runners so far this season and has hit 33 homers.
Matchup History
Ball State has beaten the Falcons in this series over the years, but the margin is close, with the Cardinals posting a winning record of 53-50.
At home BG is 25-21 against BSU, but is on a six game losing streak against the Cardinals and are 2-8 in the last 10 face offs. Last time out against Ball State, the Orange and Brown lost 11-3.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
#0 Addy Martin (Bowling Green)
The redshirt freshman was BG Falcon Media’s athlete of the week this past week thanks to her great all aroundperformance. In the double header against Youngstown State she went 3-6 from the plate with an RBI and a stolen base.
This year Martin is going .358 from the plate with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs. She was moved to shortstop from third base during this season and has stepped up with a .937 fielding percentage.
#34 Scarlet Anderson (Bowling Green)
Anderson has been a consistent starting pitcher for the Falcons this season. After a shaky start with a high ERA, she has since settled in and lowered her ERA to 3.13. The senior is 3-2 as a starter and has struck out 24 batters so far this year.
Gunter has been a solid hitter all year for the Cardinals, with a batting average of .304 and 19 RBIs. The senior outfielder has also scored 17 runs for BSU and only struck out three times.
Last game against Indiana State, Gunter hit a grand slam in the first inning to help Ball State secure the win.
#4 McKayla Timmons (Ball State)
Timmons is a utility player who often plays catcher for the Cardinals. The redshirt senior has a very impressive .492 hitting percentage on the year.
Although she was quiet versus Indiana State, Timmons has 34 runs, 34 RBIs, and has gone yard 11 times this season.
