BGSU softball (15-18, 3-9) experienced a tough road battle in Kent, Ohio, falling 5-2 to Kent State (17-16, 7-5). The Falcons showcased mid-game resilience with a fifth-inning push but were unable to overcome early offensive pressure.
Kent State struck early, putting up a run in the bottom of the first inning when junior outfielder Aaralyn Nogay singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI groundout by junior first baseman Megan Claerhout. They extended the advantage to 2-0 in the third when Nogay tripled to right field and came home on a sacrifice fly from senior second baseman Brynn Libler.
Kent State made it a three-run game in the fourth after freshman third baseman Gabby Quinn walked, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a steal by freshman shortstop Alex Trevena.
Junior pitcher Alyvia Roth took the loss in the circle for the Falcons, falling to 2-6 on the season after allowing three earned runs and striking out two over 3.2 innings. Sophomore pitchers Madison Wendel and Morgan Beckham saw action in relief, with Beckham tossing a scoreless final 0.2 innings for Bowling Green.
Bowling Green refused to go quietly, putting together a rally at the top of the fifth inning against Kent State redshirt junior relief pitcher Alena Hillyard. After junior outfielder Peyton Steffes reached on a fielding error, freshman outfielder Izzy Ray ripped a double to right field.
Junior first baseman Taylor Behrendt then put the Falcons on the board with an RBI groundout to score Steffes, and senior catcher Ashley Chevalier followed with another RBI groundout to score Ray, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Kent State answered back in the bottom of the fifth when Nogay doubled and scored on an RBI single to right field from Claerhout, extending the lead to 4-2. The Golden Flashes added a final insurance run in the sixth after Quinn tripled and scored on a Bowling Green fielding error, securing the 5-2 final.
Ray and Behrendt served as consistent bright spots for the BGSU offense, each collecting a pair of hits in the contest. Each team recorded two errors, but the Golden Flashes beat the Falcons in the hits department 6-5.
Up Next
The Falcons are back in action at home on Tuesday, April 7, against Toledo at Meserve Field in Bowling Green, Ohio, with the game beginning at 3 p.m.
