Findlay, a Division II team, earned their first win over Bowling Green since 1978 Wednesday at Steller Field, ending BGSU’s 16-game winning streak against the Oilers.
Findlay won 12-7, outhitting the Falcons 19-9.
“Findlay played an outstanding game. They came in and dictated the tone, and executed really well early offensively,” BGSU head coach Kyle Hallock said. “Tip of the cap to Findlay in the way they played tonight.”
Junior right-handed pitcher Andrew Heffernan took the loss in the start, moving him to 0-4 this season. Heffernan allowed eight runs, including seven earned runs, and nine hits, while striking out five batters without a walk.
Heffernan has allowed at least six runs in three of his six appearances, and at least eight hits in four outings.
Senior left-hander Luke Krouse allowed two runs in 0.2 innings, senior right-hander Ty Roder gave up one run in 1.1 innings and sophomore Chase Clatur conceded a lone run in 1.2 innings in his Bowling Green debut.
Meanwhile, freshman right-hander Joey Buchanan, redshirt sophomore left-hander Titus Lotz and senior right-hander Kade Arn did not allow a run, tossing 1.1, 1.0 and 0.1 innings, respectively.
Junior infielder Aiden Booth led the way for the Oilers, tallying four hits and three RBIs.
Meanwhile, sophomore outfielder Mason Myers, junior infielder Luke Senften and senior infielder Gavyn Smith each recorded three hits, with Senften driving in three runs.
Senior infielder Mike Sciortino added two hits and three RBIs. Sciortino and Senften each launched home runs over the new outfield walls.
Bowling Green expelled much of their pitching arsenal since Friday. In three games against Ohio and standalone contests against Tiffin and Findlay, the Falcons used 14 of their 18 arms on the roster: Heffernan, Krouse, Roder, Clatur, Buchanan, Lotz, Arn, Ethan Stade, Carrson Sova, Nate Kress, Jackson Miller, CJ Boudreaux, Micah Smith and Ethan Papacek.
Bowling Green ranks ninth in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with a 7.26 ERA this season. The Falcons have allowed opponents to hit .340, the worst opponent batting average in the conference.
“We’re looking for guys to compete and execute pitches with two strikes and two outs, and some people separated themselves and need to be ready to go this weekend,” Hallock said.
Next, the Falcons will play a three-game weekend series against Northern Illinois in Dekalb, Illinois, beginning on Friday.
“I expect us to be ready for practice first tomorrow at 1 p.m. We are a one day at a time team, and a one day at a time program,” Hallock said. “We’ll worry about Friday when we have a good Thursday.”
