The Falcons defeated the Miami RedHawks 5-0 in Sunday’s series finale to avoid a series sweep by the RedHawks.
After losing its first two games, BG starting pitcher Andrew Lacinak pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and giving up no runs for the Falcons.
“It’s all about Andrew Lacinak. That was his best career start and he did a phenomenal job,” Schmitz said.
In the second inning, Brandon Howard and Patrick Lancaster scored for BG off a throwing error. In the next inning, Howard drove in two runs off a triple to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead. Outfielder Jeremy Shay added an insurance run with an RBI single in the 8th inning.
The Falcons collected 15 hits in the contest.
In Friday’s opening game, BG scored first when Trey Keegan scored on a two-out error by Miami. The RedHawks scored the next three runs in the game to take a 3-1 lead into the seventh inning.
The Falcons cut the deficit to one run off a two out RBI single by Jake Thomas. The RedHawks earned an insurance run against in the eighth inning, on a two-out solo home run off the from their catcher Max Andresen.
BG tied the game in the ninth with a two-out double from Brian Bien, but the Falcons gave up a walkoff double in the bottom of the tenth inning to lose to the RedHawks 5-4.
It was the Falcons first loss in extra innings this season.
“That was a tough loss. We battled and we had our chances. We made a couple mistakes and that was a tough loss,” said BG baseball coach Danny Schmitz.
Falcon starting pitcher Mike Frank pitched eight innings, struck out eight batters and earned a no decision.
Frank became the Falcons all-time leader for career innings pitched, passing Kip Young’s previous record of 295 innings pitched. Frank has now pitched 298 innings in his career and is second all-time with 211 strikeouts.
In Saturday afternoon’s game, Falcon starting pitcher Brett Fitzwater pitched a career-high six innings in the game and allowed two runs. However, the Falcons lost 3-1 with their offense getting four hits in the game.
“I thought Brett pitched well. He gave us a chance to win, but our bats just went silent,” Schmitz said.
RedHawks starting pitcher Nathan Williams pitched 8.2 innings in the Miami victory.
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, T.J. Losby tied the game with an RBI double for the Falcons. However, Miami regained the lead the next inning and held it for the rest of the game.
With the win, BG improves to 21-22 overall and 11-10 in the MAC. The RedHawks are now 22-25 overall and 12-9 in the MAC.
BG will be at home next weekend against Ohio University in another MAC series. The series will be the final home weekend series at Steller Field this season for the Falcons.
