BGSU baseball completed a series sweep against the Akron Zips (13-17, 5-10) with back-to-back wins in a doubleheader on Friday.
In the Falcons’ 9-8 victory against the Blue and Gold, sophomore infielder Alex Laird would make program and MAC single-game history by having the most stolen bases in a single game with seven.
“My mentality is to always try to get a bag or two,” Laird said. “Today, I was just able to go out there and get more opportunities.”
Laird, in his second season with the Orange and Brown, has appeared in 28 games with 22 of them being starts, and so far has scored 15 times this season. Head coach Kyle Hallock has stated that Laird is showing what his true potential can be in being a threat on the base paths, and it starts with practice.
“He is actualizing his potential,” Hallock said. “Before he started getting into the lineup consistently, he had practiced well for about three weeks, and if you can stand out in our practices, that means you’re dominating.”
Hallock also attributed these opportunities to the hard work ethic the Canton, Ohio, native brings every day.
“He was working really hard, so it makes it easy to give him an opportunity,” Hallock said. “He’s been patient, and he’s made some great adjustments along the way. He’s taken it upon himself, I’m so very happy for him.”
Laird also mentioned the team effort from the group in helping him succeed.
“The goal is to just do the best that you can,” Laird said. “You always try to pass the baton to the next guy. We’ve been trying to work hard on keeping going and going and eventually trying to click. Obviously, this weekend, it clicked.”
Laird and the Orange and Brown will look to continue their momentum as they travel south to Bill Davis Stadium to face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m.
