Yesterday, BSGU softball (15-31, 7-15 MAC) lost the series-opening game in the Battle of I-75 at Toledo (15-26. 8-12 MAC) 9-4. The Falcons now need to win out and hope for help to make the 2025 MAC Tournament.
The BG pitching staff could not solve the Rocket’s bats, allowing eight combined earned runs on 12 hits, four walks, two doubles and three home runs. Freshman Morgan Beckham takes the loss on her 2.2 innings, four earned runs on four hits and a home run.
The pitching staff for BG, who for a six-game stretch allowed only seven earned runs (4/5-4/12), has allowed 30 earned in their latest six (4/15-4/25), a 3-3 record compared to the most recent 0-6.
Toledo arm Sophia Knight threw a winning effort in her seven complete, four earned runs allowed on nine hits, one strikeout and no walks. Her effort was bolstered by two three-hit games for second baseman Sidney Griffith and left-fielder Samantha Bolding, combining six for eight, four runs, four RBIs, three stolen bases, and two home runs, both by Bolding.
BG’s only multi-hit games came at the bat of Cam Kaufman and Kendall Mathews. Both players have back-to-back two-hit games (CMU, UT) contributing 6 runs during that time. It is Kaufman’s first time getting consecutive two-hit games in her career, Mathews recording her second in a BG uniform.
The Falcon’s top three hitters in the order, all with a .300+ batting average, had only two hits total in the loss, one run contribution, and two strikeouts. Second baseman Hannah Hunt snapped her 10-game hit streak in the second game against Central Michigan and now has gone three games hitless, 0/3 against the BG rivals.
Toledo’s 12 total hits are just their second time reaching that mark in the last five games, the first time scoring nine runs or more in a win since March 21 against Ball State. BG continues to go winless through their last six and have not scored more than four runs since April 12 against Western Michigan.
The Battle of I-75 concludes with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. BG’s final MAC games of the regular season will follow Toledo against Miami (OH) at home on Tuesday, April 29.
