BGSU softball (14-13, 2-5 MAC) lost in the final moments by a score of 5-4 against the Buffalo Bulls (13-17, 4-3 MAC) Friday night. This loss was the first game of the four-game homestand for the Falcons at Meserve Field.
Mckenzie Krafcik earned the loss in her 14th start of the season, moving her to 8-6 on the year.
“She competes every, every pitch she’s competing, and she gives us a chance,” head coach Michelle Gardner said. “That’s all I can ask from her is to give us a chance.”
On the opposing side, Genevieve Longsdorf picked up the win in her 12th start of the season for the Bulls, moving her record to 6-3.
The Falcons struggled to string together offense.
“We just got to keep building on it, and we will. There are things that I am happy about and things I’m disappointed about,” Gardner said. “The truth of the matter is we have to keep competing, and if we continue to at least push, we’re going to find ourselves on more winning ends than losing ends.”
The Buffalo offense was on top of Krafcik early, scoring two runs in the first inning after Nicole Allen hit a ball to center field for a base hit, scoring Buffalo baserunners from second and third.
Bowling Green scored their first runs of the day in the second inning after a sacrifice fly by Ashley Chevalier scored Cameron Kaufman from third base. During the next at-bat, Addie Martin broke for second base and recorded a steal. Once the catcher got rid of the ball trying to throw Martin out, Hannah Hunt sprinted home from third base to steal a run for the Falcons.
While trying to throw Hunt out, Buffalo overthrew the catcher, allowing Martin to advance to third base and eventually home after avoiding the tag at home plate from the Bulls catcher. The second inning ended with the Falcons holding a 3-2 lead.
In the fourth inning, Buffalo added a couple runs of their own. After loading the bases, Lily Lauck put the ball into play resulting in a fielder’s choice and Buffalo scoring a run. The next batter, Ava Thelen, hit the ball to first base, and after a play at the plate, Buffalo added another run, putting the score at 4-3 Buffalo.
Bowling Green responded immediately, after Hanna Massaro hit a ball to the wall in deep right center field, scoring Martin from third base and tying the game up at 4-4.
The tie held until the top of the seventh inning, when Reagan Terwilliger hit a triple after drilling a ball to deep left field off the wall. She would then be brought home by Allen after she hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring the game-winning run.
Next, the Falcons will take on Buffalo in a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. at Meserve Field. The second game of the doubleheader will take place 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.
