The BGSU softball team (8-2) is heading down to sunny Madeira Beach, Florida, to compete in the Make It Happen Games for their final tournament of the year. The Falcons will play five games throughout the weekend, taking on two teams from Illinois, two from New York and one from Florida.
The Falcons will face Illinois State (6-5) at 12:30 p.m. and Illinois-Chicago (6-9-1) at 3 p.m. on Friday, with games against Albany (1-3) and Colgate (5-10) at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively, on Saturday. BG will round out the weekend against Bethune-Cookman (3-13) at 9 a.m. on Sunday.
The Falcons are coming off a two-win performance at the East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Tournament, with wins over ETSU (5-2) and Tennessee State (12-0). The weekend was capped off with a Saturday night loss to ETSU (3-2). The schedule was slated to have BGSU face both ETSU and Tennessee State on Sunday, but the incoming rain sent the teams home a day early.
The Orange and Brown’s 8-2 start is the best since the 2018 season (9-1) and the second-best start in program history, as well as the best start to a season that head coach Michelle Gardner has been at the helm of a program for.
Scouting the Falcons
The Falcon offense has been on a tear through the first 10 games, batting .311 as a team, with 12 home runs and 85 total runs. The key for BG’s offense has been their ability to capitalize on the free passes, with 63—52 walks and 11 hit-by-pitches—through 10 games.
Redshirt sophomore third baseman Addie Martin has picked up right where she left off in 2025, starting the season with a team leading 15 RBIs and five home runs, while slashing .361/.452/.861.
Junior shortstop Cameron Kaufman has already matched her run total from last season of 15, with 10 of them coming in the five games during Furman’s Purple and White Classic. She’s leading the team in batting average (.424), runs (15) and hits (14).
Freshman outfielder Hannah Simko has hit the ground running, literally, after making her collegiate debut in a pinch running appearance in the season opener against Queens, and has appeared in every game since, including seven starts. She’s batting .346 with nine stolen bases to her credit thus far, good enough for 26th in the country.
Senior pitcher Mackenzie Krafcik has had a hot start and has largely been able to curtail free passes (three walks, two hit-by-pitches), all while increasing her strikeout numbers from 2025. Through 26.2 innings pitches across six games, she’s had 18 strikeouts, while only giving up three home runs.
Scouting the Opponents
Illinois State (Missouri Valley Conference)
The Redbirds are coming off an off-weekend after the Silicon Valley Invitational (Feb. 12-15), where they went 4-2 with wins over San Jose State (2-1, 11-5), UC-Santa Barbara (6-5) and Utah (6-4, 10 inn.). Their two losses came at the hands of Santa Clara (5-2) and California (8-4).
Three of their five losses came at the hands of power four teams (Kansas, No. 6 Florida and Michigan), with none of the games being competitive. Freshman infielder Morgan Calhoun and senior utility Bella Atkinson will hope to continue their hot starts at the plate, as the Redbirds hope to stay above .500.
University of Illinois-Chicago (Missouri Valley Conference)
The Flames have had a slow start to their season, with not a single winning weekend to their credit this year.
Last weekend, they went 2-1 against Cornell (4-2 win, 5-4 loss and 6-5 win), and 0-2-1 against Chattanooga (15-0 loss, 8-1 loss and 8-8 tie). Seven of their 16 games have been cut short due to the run rule. Look for Cameran Rios (junior third baseman) and Sam Tourtillott (senior infielder) to continue their fast starts if the Flames want to head back to Chicago with a few wins.
Albany (America East)
The Great Danes (1-3) have only played four games to this point in the year, with their only win coming against Mercyhurst (6-0). Like the Falcons, Albany still has another non-conference weekend following the Make It Happen games.
Even with a 1-4 record, they’re still filled with strong talent, namely Katie Parisi (freshman outfielder) and Hayley Wieczerzak (sophomore right-handed pitcher).
Colgate (Patriot League)
The Raiders (5-10) are coming off a strong showing at the South Florida Showdown, with wins over Boston College (7-4) and Marist (6-1). Following the Make It Happen games, the Raiders still have one more nonconference weekend coming at the Penn State Softball Invitational.
Junior outfielder Nora Megenity is a player to watch, as he can provide a spark for the Raiders this weekend as they continue their quest for .500.
Bethune-Cookman (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
The Wildcats (3-13) are by far the weakest team that BG will face over the course of the weekend, with two of their three wins coming against Long Island (6-5, 2-1) and their last win coming against Utah (8-7). The Maroon and Yellow do not have a single batter that’s hitting over .350, with their highest batting average being Emma Bradley-Tse (.310).
Bethune-Cookman has been shutout in eight of their 16 games and scored less than three runs in 12 of 16 games. Like the Falcons, the Make It Happen games are their final tournament weekend.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Paige McLeod (Illinois State junior right-handed pitcher)
McLeod has been the Redbirds best and most dependable pitcher to this point in the season, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.60 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
Katie Parisi – (Albany freshman outfielder)
Parisi has been on a tear to begin the season. Even with such a small sample size (four games), she’s still batting an even .500 with three doubles and a triple.
She was named the America East rookie of the week for the week of Feb. 17, marking her first collegiate honor in her debut season.
Hayley Wieczerzak – (Albany sophomore right-handed pitcher)
Wieczerzak has been on a heater to start off the season. Like Parisi, Albany only playing four games is a limiter, but the numbers don’t lie: a 1.45 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 9.2 innings is the real deal.
If the Falcons were to see her, she would more than likely be the best pitcher faced all weekend.
Nora Megenity – (Colgate junior outfielder)
To this point, Megenity has been far and away the hottest hitter in the Raiders lineup, batting .370 with four doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs through 46 at-bats. For the Raiders to have a fighting shot in the weekend, Megenity must stay hitting the ball like she has been.
Following the Make It Happen games, the Orange and Brown will travel to Conway, South Carolina to take on Coach Gardner’s former team, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (8-7).
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Dawson Pelter will have a recap following the conclusion of each day’s action, all available on BGFalconMedia.com
