BGSU baseball returns to Mid-American Conference (MAC) play with a three-game weekend series against Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Illinois.
First pitch is set for 4 p.m. on Friday, with the Saturday and Sunday’s games beginning at 3 p.m.
The series will mark Bowling Green’s final conference series in DeKalb, as NIU is set to leave the MAC after the season ends.
Matchup History
The teams have played 74 times since 1968, with the Falcons leading the all-time series 45-28-1.
Bowling Green won two of three games against the Huskies last season; however, Northern Illinois outscored the falcons 20-17 in the series.
BGSU swept Northern Illinois in the last series played in DeKalb in 2024.
Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons have struggled to begin the season, sitting in ninth place in the MAC standings with a 7-15 overall and 3-6 conference recod.
Bowling Green has lost all three of their conference series so far against Kent State, Miami (OH) and Ohio.
BGSU is coming off a 12-7 loss to Division II Findlay on Wednesday at Steller Field.
Bowling Green’s offense has limped for much of the season.
The Falcons rank dead last in the conference in runs scored (103), on-base percentage (OBP) (.322), slugging percentage (.367) and walks drawn (78).
BG also ranks second-to-last in the MAC in batting average (.232) and strikeouts (228).
Bowling Green’s pitching has not been much better.
The Falcons are last in the conference in opponent batting average (.340) and ninth in ERA (7.26).
But BG does rank second in the MAC in strikeouts tossed (200).
In five games from Friday through Wednesday, Bowling Green used 14 of 18 pitchers on their roster against Ohio, Tiffin and Findlay.
Notably, senior right-handed pitcher Jacob Turner—BG’s ace—and redshirt junior first baseman Brady Birchmeier—the team’s best power hitter—are both currently out week-to-week, according to head coach Kyle Hallock.
Scouting Northern Illinois
The Huskies have been one of the biggest surprises in the conference.
After being picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll, Northern Illinois is third in the MAC standings with a 14-7 overall and 6-3 conference record.
The Huskies have won four in a row, sweeping Miami and defeating Eastern Illinois on Tuesday.
NIU is one of the top power teams in the MAC.
The Huskies place third in the conference in slugging percentage (.461). They also rank fourth in doubles (44) and home runs (27).
Additionally, Northern Illinois is fifth in the MAC in batting average (.271), sixth in runs scored (142), eighth in OBP (.378) and last in stolen bases (20).
NIU’s pitching has also been solid.
The Huskies are second in the MAC in opponent batting average (.255). They place sixth in the conference in ERA (6.81) and strikeouts (177).
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Sam Seidel (Bowling Green No. 21)
The senior infielder has been the biggest bright spot for the Falcons this season.
Seidel ranks fourth in the MAC with 12 stolen bases and fifth with eight doubles.
Additionally, he leads Bowling Green in batting average (.300), OBP (.434), slugging percentage (.513), OPS (.947), runs (16) and walks (17).
Brayden Curlis (Bowling Green No. 7)
The sophomore infielder has been emerging as one of the best bats in the bottom-half of the order for Hallock.
In the two midweek games against Tiffin and Findlay, Curlis hit 3-for-6 with two runs, three RBIs, a home run, a walk and a walk-off single against the Dragons.
Caden Robertson (Northern Illinois No. 27)
The senior outfielder, who transferred to NIU after being named a Division II All-American last season at Central Oklahoma, has been a major part of the team’s success.
Robertson leads the MAC with 10 home runs and an .823 slugging percentage. He also ranks third in the conference in OPS (1.223) and RBIs (29), while placing eighth in batting average (.367).
Max Vaisvilla (Northern Illinois No. 30)
Although he is just 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, the senior left-handed pitcher has excelled for Northern Illinois.
Vaisvilla leads the MAC with four wins. He also ranks third in the conference in innings pitched (36.2) and strikeouts (36), fifth in strikeouts looking (10), sixth in ERA (3.19) and eighth in opponent batting average (.222).
