BGSU baseball returns to action for the first time in 267 days on Friday, beginning a three-game weekend series against No. 5 Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia.
The teams will play at 4 p.m. on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m., to begin a stretch of 17 straight away games to start the season.
A win for Bowling Green will mark the 1,800th victory in program history and just the second win over a top-five opponent in the team’s 110-year history, with the first being a 9-6 win over No. 5 Louisville on Feb. 25, 2023.
A win on Friday would mark the first season-opening win since a 22-8 victory over St. Louis in 2022.
Additionally, a series win would mark the first time the Falcons have won the series opener in back-to-back seasons since beating Murray State in 2006 and Middle Tennessee State in 2007, whom they took two of three from last year.
Matchup History
The teams have played seven times before, with Georgia Tech leading the all-time series 4-3.
The Yellow Jackets swept the three-game series in the last meeting in 2014.
Bowling Green’s last win over Georgia Tech came in 1974, a 3-2 victory.
Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons are ranked fifth in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving one vote to win the MAC Tournament.
Bowling Green finished fourth in the MAC last season, ending with a 33-22 overall and 19-11 conference record.
The Falcons lost both of the All-MAC selections from last year, as catcher Garrett Wright transferred to Tennessee and right-handed closer Connar Penrod graduated. Additionally, star two-way player DJ Newman departed the program after getting drafted by the Houston Astros.
15 of BG’s 36-player roster are new to the program this season, including eight transfers and seven true freshmen.
However, Bowling Green still returns 52.5% of their RBI, 51% of their home runs and 44.8% of their runs scored from last season, with the team’s offensive production now on the shoulders of redshirt junior first baseman Brady Birchmeier, senior infielder Sam Seidel and redshirt senior catcher/outfielder Zack Horky, among others.
BGSU’s probable starting pitchers are senior right-hander Jacob Turner on Friday, sophomore right-hander Carrson Sova in the first game on Saturday and junior right-hander Andrew Heffernan in the second game on Saturday, according to Georgia Tech’s preview.
Scouting Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets are expected to be one of the best teams in the country, ranked No. 2, No. 4 or No. 5 across every major poll, entering the season as a consensus preseason top-five team for the first time since 2026.
Georgia Tech is coming off a 40-win season, finishing last year 41-19 overall and 19-11 in the ACC, winning the ACC Regular Season Championship.
However, GT has a new head coach for the first time since 1994, as James Ramsey assumed the role following the retirement of NCAA Hall of Famer Danny Hall, the ninth-winningest head coach in NCAA history. Ramsey has been an assistant coach for Georgia Tech for the past seven years.
The Yellow Jackets have three preseason First Team All-Americans—junior center fielder Drew Burress, junior catcher Vahn Lackey and graduate student right-hander Mason Patel.
GT is returning much of their talent from last season, including 60% of the innings pitched from last year and eight of their nine batters from game one of the Oxford Regional last season.
Georgia Tech’s probable starting pitchers are junior right-hander Tate McKee on Friday, Patel in the first game on Saturday and freshman Cooper Underwood in the second game on Saturday.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Birchmeier (Bowling Green No. 43)
Birchmeier is expected to be an anchor in Bowling Green’s lineup after hitting .318 with 10 doubles, nine home runs and 50 RBI in 38 games last season.
The New Lothrop, Michigan, native had a breakout 2025 campaign after batting just .179 in 28 games and 17 starts in 2024.
He did struggle with injuries in the second half of last season, but still led the Falcons in RBI.
Sova (Bowling Green No. 9)
Sova made physical strides during the offseason, adding two inches and 33 pounds. He now stands at 6-foot-10 and 230 pounds, making him the tallest pitcher in the MAC by three inches.
The Liberty Township, Ohio, native finished his debut collegiate season with a 3-3 record, a 5.70 ERA and 41 strikeouts to 26 walks in 17 appearances and 12 starts.
Burress (Georgia Tech No. 8)
Burress is the first Georgie Tech captain to wear a “C’ on their jersey, and is projected to be one of the best players in the country this season.
The Houston County, Georgia, native led the ACC in doubles (23) last season, while also ranking second in the conference in home runs (19) and runs scored (77), fourth in OPS (1.162), sixth in slugging percentage (.693) and eighth in on-base percentage (OBP) (.469).
Patel (Georgia Tech No. 29)
Patel earned Second Team All-ACC honors and was named a National Pitcher of the Year semifinalist last season.
The Knoxville, Tennessee, native earned an 11-2 record with five saves and a 3.34 ERA, striking out 64 and walking only 18 in 70.0 innings pitched last year.
