BGSU baseball (23-11, 12-6) is staying on the road, traveling to Indiana to battle Purdue Fort Wayne (6-27, 5-9) on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
The Falcons are seeking to extend their non-conference winning streak to six games, dating back to March 5. BGSU is also looking to sweep the season series against the Mastodons.
Matchup History
Historically, the Orange and Brown also hold a strong lead in the series against the Mastodons, leading the matchup 17-5 since the two teams started playing in 2003.
Bowling Green managed to get the better of the Mastodons in their last matchup, which took place at Steller Field in Bowling Green on March 18, when the Falcons pulled off a 19-18 victory with a walk-off single from junior infielder Sam Seidel.
BGSU is on an eight-game winning streak against Purdue Fort Wayne, with their last loss coming in Indiana in 2007.
Scouting Bowling Green
The Orange and Brown are attempting to maintain a six-game winning streak against non-conference opponents, including a series win against fellow Horizon League teammates to Purdue Fort Wayne, Youngstown State.
In conference play, Bowling Green has had struggles, falling to Western Michigan in two of three games, placing them fourth in the conference standings at 12-6 against Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents.
Statistically, BG is still towards the top of the MAC in several categories, including being second in batting average (.297), along with third in hits (356) and on-base percentage (.405).
On the bump, the Falcons are also relatively strong with an earned run average (ERA) of 5.86, which ranks third in the conference. However, they also allow the most hits (375) and have thrown the most wild pitches (42).
Scouting Purdue Fort Wayne
The Mastodons are currently situated at fourth in the Horizon League standings, leading only Youngstown State and Oakland.
In the batter’s box, Purdue Fort Wayne holds the worst batting average in the Horizon at .241 and are also bottom of their conference in hits (264), runs (151), doubles (43), triples (3), home runs (17), runs batted in (RBI) (131) and slugging percentage (.332).
Pitching is slightly better with an 8.51 ERA, which ranks fifth in the conference. They also rank fifth in the Horizon League in hits (346), runs (296) while also allowing the most walks with 225 on the season.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Carter Mottice (Bowling Green #17)
Despite being a freshman, Mottice was plopped into BGSU’s lineup Wednesday, April 9, against Youngstown State and has remained a starter through the next three games.
Mottice currently sits at a .286 batting average through his four games with four hits, five runs, three RBIs, three walks and two strikeouts.
Sam Seidel (Bowling Green #21)
To pair with the youth and big-play ability of Mottice is the seasoned junior who was the catalyst in the walk-off game winner that pushed BGSU past PFW earlier this season.
Seidel currently has 41 hits for 19 runs with one home run, which he hit in his most recent game against Youngstown State on April 9. He did not play in BG’s series against Western Michigan but could be seeking a return.
Jackson Micheels (Purdue Fort Wayne #14)
For the Mastodons to defeat BGSU for the first time in nearly a decade, they will need production out of players who performed well in their last matchup, and Micheels fits the bill.
In the first game against the Falcons, the senior tallied three hits for three RBIs with three runs scored and two walks, which helped maintain the consistency for PFW.
Justin Osterhouse (Purdue Fort Wayne #17)
If Micheels was the consistency for the Mastodons, then Osterhouse was the “big play guy” when the two teams faced off at Steller Field.
Osterhouse posted the best stats out of any Mastodon on March 18, with three hits for four runs scored, six RBIs and three walks.
