After losing the first two games of the series, Bowling Green was able to bounce back in the series finale to take the last game against Central Michigan.
The first game of the series was a back and forth battle of both teams’ aces Mike Frank and Jordan Foley. Bowling Green starter Frank lasted six and two thirds innings while allowing four earned runs, and three strikeouts. Foley struck out six Falcons in his seven innings of work on six runs, but just one was earned.
The Falcons carried a 6-5 lead going into the ninth inning, but were unsuccessful in holding the lead. With two outs and a runner on first, Logan Regnier tripled off of Jason Link, which scored his brother Nick Regnier. Nick Regnier singled earlier in the inning to tie the game. A base hit later gave the Chippewas a 7-6 lead, which they would hold onto in the bottom of the frame. The Central Michigan ninth inning comeback gave them the first game of the series.
On Saturday’s windy affair, it would be a game where Central Michigan hit back-to-back home runs on two separate occasions. Chippewa’s Tyler Huntey hit a grand slam over the left field wall on a 3-2, two out pitch in the second inning to give Central Michigan a 6-1 lead. The next batter was Cody Leichman, who on the next pitch also hit a homerun to left field.
After a total of seven runs were scored in the second inning the Falcons found themselves trailing 9-1. In the fifth inning Central Michigan would again hit back-to-back home runs from Morgan Oliver and Nick Regnier.
BG’s Tyler Greiner would earn his first collegiate hit for the Falcons, but the Chippewas took game two of a final 16-2.
Sunday’s slugfest would result in a total of 33 hits combined for the two teams. BG’s Andrew Lacinak would earn his third victory of the season, throwing five and third innings pitched on three earned. Lacinak battled all game long and was able to work his way out of trouble with runners on base.
“I knew they were a good hitting team, but I knew if I could get that first pitch strike they would get themselves out,” said Lacinak.
Stepping up offensively for the Falcons was second baseman Logan Walker who successfully avoided a tag at home plate where he slid around the tag head first to make the score 3-1 in the fourth inning.
“I knew that I needed to take off for home and give us that cushion,” Walker said.
Walker also hit a big three run home run, his first of the season, which was then followed by his teammate Trey Keegan who also sent a ball over the fence. Keegan had a three hit game on his ninth start of the season.
Eighteen Falcon hits lead them to a 17-8 victory over the Chippewas. The Falcons will now play on Tuesday against the University of Findlay before playing a weekend series against Akron.
