BGSU softball (9-5) experienced a tough stretch in Madeira Beach, Florida, on Saturday, dropping a pair of games at the Make It Happen Games. The Falcons fell 8-2 to UAlbany (2-6) before battling in a 5-2 loss against Colgate (6-11) at R.O.C. Park.
Game One vs. UAlbany
The Falcons opened the day by finding themselves in an early hole, ultimately falling 8-2 to the Great Danes.
UAlbany’s offense struck immediately when freshman pitcher Julia Pike led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run. The Great Danes capitalized on the momentum, adding two more runs in the frame on a sacrifice fly from senior infielder Sara Anderson and an RBI double by sophomore catcher Vanessa Meyers. They broke the game wide open in the third inning, using six hits to score four more times and take a commanding 7-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Bowling Green’s lineup struggled to find its rhythm early against Pike, who faced just one batter over the minimum through the first three innings. Junior infielder Taylor Behrendt finally broke up the no-hitter with a one-out single in the fourth inning.
The Falcons showed signs of life in the fifth when redshirt sophomore third baseman Addie Martin drew a one-out walk and senior outfielder Kendall Mathews followed by launching a two-run homer to put BGSU on the board.
Bowling Green threatened to mount a massive rally in the sixth after loading the bases via a double by senior utility Katie Hutter, a Behrendt walk, and a hit-by-pitch drawn by junior shortstop Cameron Kaufman. However, UAlbany relief sophomore pitcher Hayley Wieczerzak worked out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts, and the Great Danes tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the frame to secure the 8-2 final.
Game Two vs. Colgate
In the second matchup, the Falcons found themselves in a tighter battle against Colgate but ultimately came up short in a 5-2 loss.
The Raiders wasted no time getting on the board, with junior outfielder Nora Megenity launching a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning. However, Bowling Green answered immediately in the bottom of the frame.
Freshman outfielder Hannah Simko sparked the offense with a leadoff single and advanced to third on a one-out double from Hutter. Behrendt then delivered an RBI groundout to the right side, scoring Simko and tying the game at 1-1.
Colgate took the lead for good in the third inning. After a hit-by-pitch and a single put two runners aboard, sophomore catcher Lily Haluska crushed a two-out, three-run homer to give the Raiders a 4-1 advantage.
Senior pitcher Mackenzie Krafcik went the distance in the circle for the Falcons, striking out six batters in her complete-game effort. She worked out of a jam in the sixth inning, striking out two batters after Colgate put two runners on base with only one out.
The Falcons attempted to mount a late comeback in the bottom of the sixth. Hutter laced her second double of the game, and Behrendt followed with an RBI single to score senior pinch-runner Delaney Davis, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The rally stalled there, and Colgate added an unearned insurance run in the seventh inning to cap the 5-2 final. Simko finished the game going 2-for-3 at the plate, while Hutter continued her stellar day with her second-straight multi-hit performance.
Up Next
The Falcons conclude play in the Make It Happen Games on Sunday, March 1, facing Bethune-Cookman in a 9 a.m. start.
