BGSU softball has bested Western Michigan in a three-game series over the weekend, breaking a string of three straight MAC series losses. At Meserve Field, the Falcons dropped the Friday game 3-1, winning the Saturday doubleheader 8-0 (five innings) and 4-0.
Hitting Woes
Needless to say, two wins out of three games is an overall win, especially when combined for a run differential of 13-3. It is the most runs BG has scored in a series since March 22 against Kent State, 12 more runs than last weekend’s series against NIU.
However, there have been certain lapses in offensive capability, even in a 13-run weekend. In one regard it was not very sustained; eight of the 13 scored in one individual inning in each game. Further, Bowling Green was held off the board for all six innings after scoring first on Friday, being two-hit by a pitcher with a 5.25 ERA and .300 batting average over the season.
There were some inconsistencies in the scoring as well. Even the high-octane second game was stunted by no two-hit performances for any Falcons; in the following game, six of eight hits, all RBIs, and half of the runs came from only two players (Addie Martin and Hannah Hunt).
Granted, the offense was far good enough to take two wins on Saturday; however, it was not enough to take a Friday win and not enough to truly compete against top MAC teams.
We have seen great showings of BG batting this season, and it is surely something that could swing back the way of the Falcons just as easily as it swung away. Even head coach Michelle Gardner has made lineup decisions that are successful and have had near-instant success; you never know who the next hero may be.
This all being said, Bowling Green is 12-3 when scoring 6+ runs. They are just 3-22 when scoring five or less.
Pitching “WOAHs”
BGSU’s pitching has been unbelievable in the last two MAC series, absolutely superb against Western Michigan. In 19 innings pitched, BG arms gave up just three runs and only one earned. They pitched two shutouts and one complete game while taking two wins, holding the Broncos to a .178 batting average.
Who wasn’t the star? Junior Mackenzie Krafcik started in the loss, pitching 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits, and only one run earned. All three-weekend runs were accredited to her. Freshman Morgan Beckham had appearances in all three games, combining for for 7.2 innings, one hit, and no runs. Her start, in the first Saturday game, was a one-hitter through the five-inning run-rule win.
Freshman Sydney Marshall had her best outing of the season in the final match, five innings, three hits, and no runs for her second win of the season. She has only three earned runs in her last 11 innings pitched, seven strikeouts, and one walk.
For the amount of offense the batting order put up, this pitching staff was more than enough. The Falcons are nearing the point of four trustable arms to throw on any given game, a valuable asset considering BG plays seven of their last ten games against top-four teams and offenses.
While the pitching has been great and the batting should take an upturn, both aspects need to combine quickly for the best chance at a first-year MAC Tournament appearance for BG. They sit in the seventh spot in the MAC, just outside the playoff with three top teams and Toledo yet to play.
Their next escapade, against Ohio, comes at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15, with a Falcon Media Sports Network broadcast on Falcon Radio for game one and WBGU for game two.
