The BGSU baseball team (33-20, 19-11 MAC) properly sent the seniors out on Senior Day with a 4-2 win over the Northern Illinois Huskies (21-33, 9-21 MAC) in the final regular-season game of the year.
The win on Senior Day gives a proper sendoff to the seniors in their last game at Steller Field before their time in Avon for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament.
Both starting pitchers dominated the first three innings of the ballgame.
The Falcons’ senior right-hander Landon Willeman and the Huskies’ freshman left-hander Carter Cox both retired the side multiple times.
Willeman finished his final outing at Steller Field after the third inning, tallying up five strikeouts with only one hit and one walk allowed.
“I just wanted to go out there and compete for the guys,” Willeman said.
Each team scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings, not letting either team get a run advantage.
Sophomore catcher/outfielder Garrett Wright doubled in both innings to score senior infielder Gunner Antillon twice after his two hits prior.
The Orange and Brown received two key players back into the lineup earlier in the series in junior infielder Sam Seidel and sophomore infielder Brady Birchmeier, both continued their comeback tours with huge contributions in the eighth inning of the series closer.
Birchmeier stepped into the box and knocked a double into left center field.
That set up Seidel to blast a two-run homer over the right field fence.
“This was a much-needed step for this team, a lot of momentum gained,” Seidel said.
The Falcons looked towards junior right-hander Ty Roder to close out the final frame and secure them the 4-2 win.
“This is what you get remembered for when you get to Avon,” Head Coach Kyle Hallock said.
The Orange and Brown now turn their attention to the MAC tournament at Crushers Stadium in Avon, Ohio, with their first matchup against their rivals in the Toledo Rockets on Wednesday, with first pitch at 6:00 pm.
“The fact that we play our rival is great for the MAC, great for everyone in the area,” Hallock said. “Set your clocks for 6:00 and get on over there.”
