BGSU baseball lost to the Toledo Rockets 3-1, setting the weekend series even at 1-1.
Bowling Green’s pitching did not allow the Toledo offense to produce any standout innings. Junior Andrew Heffernan threw 6.1 innings, giving up three runs, each of which was earned.
“He’s continued to buy into what we do,” head coach Kyle Hallock said. “He’s reaping the success of it, and he’s done a nice job again today.”
Redshirt junior Ethan Papacek finished on the mound for the Falcons, only allowing one hit through his 2.2 innings pitched.
Toledo freshman starting pitcher Hayden Frey only gave up one hit to the Falcons offense: a single from junior designated hitter Lance Vickers in the sixth inning. Frey only allowed three baserunners in total across his eight innings pitched.
“It was a decision to play the game with them and make them do something different,” Vickers said. “That’s all I wanted to do: just make them do something different, move up in the box, make a box adjustment, and find the pitch I need to hit.”
Vickers was the only Bowling Green batter to notch multiple hits, though he also struck out twice.
“He had three pitches for strikes in any count and, obviously, that’s hard to go against,” said Vickers.
Toledo third baseman Troy Sudbrook and JP Wagner each had successful days at the plate. Both Rockets tallied two hits, including one double, a run scored, and a stolen base.
There were only ten hits between both teams. Toledo tallied seven hits, while BG only hit three.
The Falcons created their only offensive spark in the ninth inning. Redshirt junior Ryan Hughes threw 38 pitches in his two-thirds of an inning. He allowed Griffin Scheiderer to score and left the bases loaded for graduate student Deron Swanson, who entered in relief.
Swanson only needed four pitches to retire TJ Takats, who popped out in foul territory to end the ballgame.
“It was a solid game, and we had a chance to win at the end,” Hallock said. “That’s what you can ask for, you know, trying to win a series.”
Bowling Green’s loss promotes Game Three of the Battle of I-75 to a rubber match. The Falcons will close out the weekend series on Sunday. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
