In their first all-MAC week of the season, BSGU softball has started it with two losses to the Akron Zips, 2-10 and 6-7. The Falcons drop to 12-22 overall and 4-6 in MAC play.
Both pitching and batting struggled in the first game. BG scored only two runs on five hits and two walks, with no Falcons reaching base more than once. Shortstop Addie Martin had the only two RBIs, her double knocking in Hanna Massaro and Katie Hutter.
Junior Mackenzie Krafcik was handed the BG loss, her start for 2.1 innings pitched, allowing six earned runs on eight hits. Sophomore starter Macy Walters had herself a complete game win for Akron, her sixth of the season on two earned runs and five hits.
Lily Sullivan was the leading hitter for Akron, four-for-four with two RBIs and three runs scored batting seventh in the lineup. She was closely followed by Katie Cantrell’s three-for-three, three RBIs, and a walk batting eighth.
The second game was far better for Bowling Green with Akron playing about the same. The Zips had all nine of their hits in the first four batters, the top four combining for nine hits, four RBIs, five runs, and a walk. Meagan Lee made up for her hitless first game with a three-for-four, RBI, and two-run second game.
Akron went through four pitchers in the second game, with Walters getting her second win of the day. Bowling Green went through only two, freshman Sydney Marshall giving up six earned runs in two innings pitched, fellow freshman Morgan Beckham pitching four innings, allowing the go-ahead and later game-winning run and taking a loss. Beckham’s two appearances combined for 5.2 innings, five hits, and one earned run.
Only one Falcon didn’t record a hit in the 6-7 loss, Martin continuing to be the best bat with two hits, four RBIs and two runs scored. She hit a game-tying two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning, giving Bowling Green their best chance at a win.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Lee hit an RBI single to left. BGSU went scoreless in the top of the seventh, sealing the day sweep for Akron and combined with their 7-2 win over BG on Feb. 9, the season sweep for the Zips.
Bowling Green comes home briefly for three days before hitting the road again for a weekend series against Northern Illinois. NIU sits sixth in the MAC, BGSU falling from fifth to eighth with their two losses.
The Falcons swoop in on the Huskies for a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, and a stand-alone game played at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.
