BGSU baseball (8-17, 4-8) returns to Steller Field for a crucial weekend series against the Akron Zips (13-14, 5-7) from Thursday to Saturday.
The Thursday and Friday matchups are set for a 3 p.m. first pitch, with the Saturday game slated to start at 1 p.m.
Bowling Green will be searching for their first series victory of the season, while Akron will look to pick up their second series win in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play.
Matchup History
The Orange and Brown lead the all-time series between the two teams, 56-34.
The Falcons have taken the last seven matchups with Akron’s last victory coming in 2023, when the Zips won two games of a Friday doubleheader at Skeeles Field in Akron, Ohio.
Akron last won a series over Bowling Green at Steller Field all the way back in 2000. Since then, the Falcons are 23-6 at home against the Zips.
Scouting Bowling Green
The Falcons head into their matchup against Akron with determination to pick up their first series victory of the season.
Bowling Green has been without multiple starters and key leaders in previous series against Ohio and Northern Illinois, but have found working pieces to fill in their roles.
In their midweek matchup against Tiffin, sophomore infielder Brayden Curlis knocked a single down the left field line to walk-off the Dragons. He has since been in the lineup at third base.
The Orange and Brown used 14 out of their 18 pitchers in their five-game home stretch, with redshirt senior left-handed pitcher Ethan Stade and sophomore right-handed pitcher Carrson Sova leading the way with solid outings.
Stade had already pitched phenomenal for the Falcons this season, receiving MAC Pitcher of the Week in the first week of conference play, but has picked up two wins as the Friday starter since senior right-handed pitcher Jacob Turner last pitched.
Sova has made an impact through his relief outings, pitching in all three of the Falcons’ most recent victories, allowing only two runs in that span.
Sova began the season as the Saturday starter for the team and had struggled in the role, but since being moved to a relief arm, he has been a solid arm for Bowling Green.
Scouting Akron
The Zips head into the series on a two-game winnings streak, with victories over Toledo and Youngstown State.
In their game against the Penguins, the Zips picked up an 11-10 walk off victory through an RBI single up the middle from redshirt junior infielder Brennan Morgan.
Morgan has shined for Akron this season, batting .308 with 28 hits and 26 RBI. He has been as consistent as it gets in the box and on the field, playing in all 27 games in the season so far.
Akron also has faces on their pitching staff that can deliver in big moments. Their opponent batting average and ERA sit at sixth and seventh in the MAC, respectively.
Statistically, their best pitcher picture comes out of the bullpen in freshman right-hander Brady Bowen. The Wooster, Ohio, native has a 1.14 ERA and three wins in eight appearances and 23.2 innings pitched.
If Bowen had enough innings to qualify for the conference’s statistic standings, he would have the lowest ERA in the MAC and one of the lowest opponent batting averages.
Falcon Four Players to Watch
Ethan Stade (Bowling Green No. 32)
Since filling in as the Friday starter with the absence of Turner, the lefty has dominated in starts against Ohio and Northern Illinois, finishing both outings with eight strikeouts and allowing only three runs combined.
For the Falcons to continue their multi-year winning streak over Akron, Stade is going to have to throw another gem in his assumed Friday start.
Andrew DiLodovico (Bowling Green No. 25)
The freshman did end up splitting time at catcher during the NIU series, but not because of poor play on his part, rather good play by others at his position.
When he was not catching, DiLodovico was the designated hitter, and rightfully so. He has had 13 hits in the last nine games he has played in.
While Bowen might be the star reliever, Matthews has come into his own with two straight Sunday starts. The lefty freshman has worked his way into a Sunday starting role that could be a rubber match between the Falcons and Zips in this series.
His 2.88 ERA would also crack the top six in the conference if he had enough innings pitched.
The redshirt sophomore heads into the series with a .347 batting average, the highest mark on the team. He also is the only is the only Zip with over 100 at-bats, while having the most runs and hits on the team. He most recently picked up four hits against Youngstown State.
