On Friday night, BGSU junior catcher/outfielder Zack Horky outscored Toledo’s entire offense in Bowling Green’s 8-3 win over their rivals at Fifth Third Field.
Horky went 3-4 at the plate with a double and five runs batted in (RBI) in what was arguably the best performance of his collegiate career in front of over 2,000 fans.
“It was an awesome night with the RBIs. Couldn’t have done it without the guys on the team; you can’t get an RBI without guys getting on base,” Horky said. “So, that’s just awesome to see.”
Horky has had to work hard to earn playing time during his three years at the collegiate level, learning a new position to get at-bats.
“Another guy that’s been very patient throughout his career. Bought into the concept and has been a great leader. Probably waited his turn longer than most but found a way to learn a new position,” BGSU head coach Kyle Hallock said. “He plays a great right field; we feel really good about him out there. Now, his at-bats are matching everything that he’s been about in practice.”
After sitting behind Kyle Gurney during his freshman season and Garrett Wright last year, Horky’s move to the right field paid off.
“His ability to learn a new position [has been the most impressive part]. He came in as a catcher, and we have Garrett Wright here, who emerges as a really good player,” Hallock said. “He plays a really good outfield, and he’s swinging it really, really well at a high level.”
The Blissfield, Michigan, native played just 27 total games with seven starts in his first two seasons, batting .103 at the plate with two extra-base hits and two RBIs.
This season, Horky is batting .333 through 29 games and 19 starts, tallying eight doubles, one home run and 28 RBIs.
Over the past seven games, Horky is batting .417 (15-36) with 13 RBIs and three doubles.
“He knows what he can do as a hitter, and he’s matured and understands which pitches he can handle, which pitches he needs to let go, and that’s a testament to coach [Matt] Rembielak, coach [Joey] Gamache and our hitting coaches on teaching these guys their identity and then also coaching them the discipline to have success and to attack the pitches that they swing at well in the zones that they handle really well,” Hallock said.
Throughout his collegiate journey, especially this season, Horky has leaned on his faith.
“I just want to give all the glory to God. He’s done wonderful things for me and for this whole program,” Horky said. “All the guys on our team, we’ve really been leaning in their faith, so that’s just awesome, and we want to give all the glory to him.”
Next, Horky 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.
