The first of the last is in the books. BGSU softball (15-36, 7-19 MAC) lose the first game of their final three-game series against Robert Morris (27-15, 16-7 Horizon) 6-0. The Colonials add their 27th win of the season, while BG suffer their 36th loss and ninth at home.
The first three innings were a pitching clinic. BG’s Mackenzie Krafcik and RMU’s Madison Devault pitched a shutout through three, Krafcik allowing no hits and Devault striking out five. Bowling Green’s only offensive threat was a Hannah Hunt leadoff double that the Falcons failed to bring home.
Robert Morris would then add three runs in the fourth and the fifth, Krafcik finishing with five innings and four earned runs (two unearned). Head coach Michelle Gardner’s reliever, sophomore Alivia Roth, threw two innings shutout to close the final top frames.
“Liv (Roth) looked really good, she did a great job,” said Gardner of her reliever closing the game. “She’s come in a couple of times recently and done a good job, so we are trying to figure out what her role is.”
While the visitors took advantage the second time through the lineup, BG knocked only two hits the rest of the game, Devault finishing with a seven-inning ten-strikeout shutout. They did put a runner in scoring position twice with Hunt and Cam Kaufman’s doubles, the senior pitcher striking out all three batters directly following the big hits.
“I think we need to show up a little better offensively tomorrow,” said Gardner postgame. “We had a couple of opportunities, but we can’t watch strike three.”
Against their final non-conference opponent before the tournament, RMU showed why their offense is atop the Horizon League. Their top four in the lineup combined for five hits, three RBIs and five runs, freshman clean-up hitter Mary Brant smacking a three-run opposite-field homer in the third inning to add to the 3-0 lead.
The Falcons will look to add a win to their record for the first time in eleven games despite competing for much of the game in many of the losses.
“We can beat anybody we have faced,” said Gardner reflecting on the past series. “We have to find a way to win. The process is getting better, but it doesn’t necessarily equate to winning right off the bat. We’ll come out tomorrow and hopefully find a way to get a ‘W’.”
BGSU Softball’s final games of the season take place at Meserve Field at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. Falcon Media Sports Network’s Henry Kosko will have the call of both games on Falcon Radio, streaming on bgfalconmedia.com.