BGSU baseball junior right-handed pitcher Jacob Turner dominated Toledo at Fifth Third Field on Friday, propelling the Falcons to their 30th win in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 2001 and 2002 campaigns.
Turner earned his fourth win of the season, allowing just one run on four hits in six innings while striking out six batters and walking only one across 91 pitches in the best start of his collegiate career.
“It was pro stuff in a pro park tonight. I hope some people realize that he’s got a long future in this game,” head coach Kyle Hallock said. “It was a great night for Jacob Turner, and he’s worked really hard to have this night go this way.”
The innings pitched, pitches and strikeouts all marked career highs for Turner. The outing also marked the first quality start of Turner’s career.
“It was absolutely awesome; it felt like a dream. It was a perfect atmosphere; the fans were out here, and I was hitting my spots. Just glad I was able to get the job done,” Turner said. “Just tried to stay smooth and just do what I do. I wasn’t trying to do too much, just staying smooth and just trying to throw strikes.”
The St. Clair, Michigan, native began the game by setting the first 11 Rockets down in order, including four strikeouts.
He also lit up the radar gun, reaching as high as 97 miles per hour on his fastball and sitting mid-to-high 90s the entire outing.
“97 miles per hour fastball if my eyes didn’t deceive me. Start right there with it, 95 a couple more times to prove the 97 wasn’t a joke,” Hallock said. “Second and third time through the lineup, just really starting to mix the slider and the changeup just to keep them off the fastball and keeping his velocity sustained around pitch 80 at 94 miles per hour.”
Turner faced some adversity during parts of the start.
He worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs in the fourth inning, striking out Toledo’s senior catcher Brayden White to escape the trouble.
“Three perfectly executed pitches he went out on, it was awesome. It was a good moment, for sure,” Turner said.”
He continued to confuse and frustrate Toledo hitters, setting down the side in order in his final inning in front of the over 2,000 fans in attendance.
“Back to the basics, really. I knew I was deep, and I knew I was throwing a lot of pitches. I had to stay smooth, even if the velo dropped, just trying to throw it in there and force action,” Turner said.
Turner served as the team’s primary closer last season, leading the squad with five saves. However, he has solidified himself as the team’s Friday starter this year.
“I think it’s really mentality. I mean, I’ve been able to stick to a good routine, stay healthy and recover well through each start. It’s just a mentality. You have to slow the game down out there. Going six innings, you can’t just go chuck like you do as a closer, but you have to slow it down and be smooth,” Turner said. “I love to know I can go out there, and my team’s relying on me. I can go get a job done, get us some wins; it’s great.”
Turner has been solid for the Falcons all season long, leading the team with 52.2 innings pitched and 43 strikeouts in 13 appearances and 10 starts.
He has been especially good in the second half of the season, holding a 4.17 earned run average (ERA) in conference play, the third-best mark on the team during that span.
Over his past five outings, Turner is 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA, allowing just eight earned runs and striking out 20 batters in 24.2 innings pitched.
Next, Turner and the rest of the Falcons will play two more games against Toledo at Scott Park, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.
