BGSU baseball (19-7, 9-2) secured two victories in their doubleheader matchup against Central Michigan (10-17, 5-3) with 7-5 and 4-3 wins in Mount Pleasant on Friday.
The Orange and Brown got back into the win column in Mid-American Conference (MAC) games following two losses to Kent State in their last conference series.
Game One
The Falcons came out swinging in the top of the first inning, scoring four runs.
Sophomore catcher/outfielder Garrett Wright and junior two-way player DJ Newman started the inning with back-to-back doubles, with Newman’s scoring Wright.
Sophomore infielder Brady Birchmeier punched a single into left field, which scored Newman.
Then, senior outfielder Gavin Gunan continued the hitting spree with a double to right center, scoring two more for BGSU.
The Orange and Brown smacked two more runs on the board in the second inning from a two-RBI double to left center by Birchmeier.
BGSU put up another run in the third inning, with sophomore outfielder TJ Takats recording an RBI single into center field, scoring Ganun.
The Chippewas made a pitching change in the third, going to junior right-hander Justin Morgan, who would pitch 4.1 innings on one hit and two strikeouts.
BG’s junior right-hander Jacob Turner had control of Central Michigan batters through three innings, only giving up two hits.
Turner ended his outing with 5.2 innings pitched, 10 hits, five runs, and four strikeouts.
Central Michigan cracked the scoreboard in the fourth inning, cutting the lead down to 7-2.
Sophomore outfielder Nathan Ball and junior catcher Aydin Wright picked up RBIs in the inning.
The Chippewas picked up three runs in the sixth inning, trying to close the gap once again, getting it down to 7-5.
Junior infielder Aaron Piasecki tripled to left center, which allowed Ball to score him on a groundout to short.
Redshirt sophomore infielder Bryson Webb also knocked around a triple, scoring another.
The Chippewas picked up their final run of the inning when junior outfielder Rees Campanalesingled to left field and scored Webb.
The Falcons turned to junior right-hander Ty Roderfor 2.1 innings of the game. Roder ended with allowing two hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
BGSU senior right-hander Connar Penrod came in to close the ninth inning, pitching the Chippewas into a double play and solidifying the win for the Orange and Brown.
Game Two
The second game of the doubleheader quickly became a pitching duel between Falcons freshman right-hander Carrson Sova and Chippewas redshirt junior right-hander AJ Kostic.
Sova pitched an almost flawless six innings, giving up no runs on three hits and eight strikeouts, five of which were looking. He also did not walk a batter for the third straight outing.
Kostic pitched a very clean game through four innings before conceding three runs in the top of the fifth inning.
He would finish with 4.2 innings pitched, giving up four runs on four hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.
The Falcons opened the second game with Newman’s solo home run to right field.
The Orange and Brown brought in three runs in the fifth inning to further their lead to 4-0.
BGSU senior infielder Gunnar Antillon doubled to left center, followed by a Wright single up the middle to score him.
After a Newman walk, Birchmeier continued an impressive two games with a double, scoring both Wright and Newman.
Central Michigan had a massive three-run eighth inning to cut the lead to one.
The Chippewas racked up four hits in the inning, including two doubles and two singles.
Once again, the ball would end up back in Penrod’s hands in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Penrod had another superb inning of pitching, getting the final three outs in four batters to secure BGSU the 4-3 win.
The Falcons follow up the doubleheader with the series finale against Central Michigan on Saturday, with first pitch at 10 a.m.
