BGSU softball (13-10) heads into its second week of Mid-American Conference (MAC) competition looking to gain ground after a tough opening series. The Falcons will take on Western Michigan (10-12), with both teams currently sitting at 1-2 in conference play.
Western Michigan
The Broncos ended the 2026 season by missing the Mid-American Conference tournament, finishing one spot ahead of Bowling Green with a 16-36 overall record and a 10-17 mark in conference play. However, similar to the Falcons, the season marked significant improvement.
Western Michigan enters the weekend with a 10-12 overall record, just six wins shy of matching last season’s total, much to the delight of head coach Marlee Wilson. Now in her third season, Wilson leads a team that was picked eighth in the MAC preseason poll with 41 points.
The Broncos opened conference play last weekend on the road against Miami (Ohio), winning the first game 8-6 before dropping the next two contests, 6-5 and 9-1.
Offensively, Western Michigan is led by junior outfielder Megan Malartsik, who paces the team with a .345 batting average. Freshman utility Bella Duncan serves as the primary run producer, hitting .320 while leading the team with four home runs, three triples and 24 RBIs.
Sophomore outfielder Rylee O’Brien has also been a consistent presence at the plate, posting a .342 average. As a team, the Broncos are hitting .273 this season.
Western Michigan features a young roster with only five seniors, making veteran leadership critical. Senior catcher Tristen Head remains an important anchor after earning first-team All-MAC honors last season with a .395 batting average. Although she is hitting .191 early this year, her experience remains valuable. The lineup is also supported by junior shortstop Caitlin Tighe and Michigan State transfer sophomore third baseman Hannah Herman, who are batting .286 and .271, respectively.
In the circle, Wilson’s pitching staff leans heavily on a talented freshman class. Freshman pitcher Ava Geyer has emerged as the ace, making 11 starts while posting a 3.67 ERA with two shutouts and 53 strikeouts over 55 1/3 innings. Fellow freshman pitcher Hannah Potts has also seen significant time, throwing 49 2/3 innings with 51 strikeouts, though she carries a 6.20 ERA.
As a staff, the Broncos have a 5.29 ERA and allow opponents to hit .303.
Bowling Green
The Falcons are coming off a 2025 season in which they finished 16-36 overall and 7-19 in Mid-American Conference play. Under second-year head coach Michelle Gardner, Bowling Green has already shown significant improvement, sitting at 13-10 overall and holding a 5-4 record in true road games. That total more than doubles their road win total from last season.
Bowling Green opened MAC play last weekend at home against Central Michigan, winning the series opener in a 1-0 shutout before dropping the final two games, 7-4 and 8-2.
Offensively, the Falcons are producing at a record pace, averaging 5.91 runs per game. Junior first baseman Taylor Behrendt leads the team with a .329 batting average and enters the weekend on an eight-game hitting streak. Redshirt sophomore third baseman Addie Martin provides power in the lineup, hitting .328 while leading the team with seven home runs, six doubles and 25 RBIs.
As a team, Bowling Green is hitting .269 and ranks ninth in the nation with 2.39 stolen bases per game. The Falcons have already recorded 56 stolen bases this season, surpassing their total from all of 2025.
In the circle, senior pitcher Mackenzie Krafcik has been the team’s ace. She holds an 8-4 record with a 2.48 ERA over 70 2/3 innings and has thrown eight complete games in 12 starts. Bowling Green is 9-3 in games she starts.
Bowling Green travels to Western Michigan in a three-game series this weekend, with a single game at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 20, followed by a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 21.
Find recaps of the matchups and more BGSU softball coverage at bgfalconmedia.com.
