BGSU baseball (8-15, 4-6) came from behind Friday, scoring three runs in the eighth inning to defeat Northern Illinois (14-8, 6-4) 5-4 in the series opener in DeKalb, Illinois.
Trailing 4-2 with one out in the top of the eighth inning, junior outfielder TJ Takats blasted a double to right center, scoring two runs.
In the next at-bat, freshman catcher Andrew DiLodovico doubled to left field, scoring Takats to take the lead.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Carrson Sova (2-2) earned the win, tossing three innings in relief. He allowed one run on three hits, hit a batter, issued two walks and struck out three across 56 pitches.
Redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher Titus Lotz earned the save, his first of the year and third of his career. He walked a batter and stuck out two across 22 pitches in the ninth inning.
Bowling Green’s starter, redshirt senior left-hander Ethan Stade, nearly tallied a quality start. He allowed three runs on seven hits, hit two batters, walked two and struck out eight across 94 pitches in five innings.
The Falcons jumped to an early lead, scoring two runs in the second inning. Redshirt senior third baseman Anthony Mitta drove in DiLodovico with a double before Mitta scored on a throwing two at-bats later.
Then, Northern Illinois took control in the middle innings before the late BG comeback.
The Huskies first scored on an RBI single by senior infielder Cole Smith in the third inning.
They added two more runs in the sixth frame on an RBI single by junior infielder Vinny Spotofora before Spotofora scored on a bases-loaded hit by pitch.
NIU added their final run of the game on an RBI single by freshman outfielder Wyatt Wawro in the seventh inning.
Junior left-handed pitcher Josh Loren took the loss, allowing one run and recording a lone out.
Junior right-handed pitcher Danny Cihocki did not earn a decision but worked a quality start for the Huskies, allowing just two runs and four hits with six strikeouts across 98 pitches in seven innings.
DiLodovico was the only Falcon to record multiple hits. Sophomore outfielder Carter Mottice, Takats, Mitta, sophomore infielder Brayden Curlis and redshirt senior outfielder Zack Horky each tallied a hit.
Next, the Falcons will seek their first series win of the season against Northern Illinois tomorrow at 3 p.m.
