The tie between Bowling Green and Akron baseball will be broken this weekend.
The tale of the tape has been a bit different for either side over its past few weeks.
BG has won each of its last four Mid-American Conference series while Akron has lost its last two, with a 1-5 MAC record in that span.
But the teams are locked in a third place tie within the MAC East, each with a 9-9 conference record.
“We are tied with them in the MAC standings, so this weekend is very important,” said head coach Danny Schmitz. “The MAC is a really tight race right now so we must execute all weekend long.”
Starting the year 5-16, 0-5 in the MAC, the Falcons understand that the hole they put themselves in requires them to continue their recent string of success.
Looking for a berth into the MAC tournament, this will be a pivotal conference series in which the Falcons can seize the opportunity and separate themselves firmly into third place in the East.
The recipe for success is simple for BG: do what it has been doing.
All three phases have been clicking for the Falcons over its recent games.
As a team over its past 19 games, BG has hit .295, averaged more than six runs per game while the pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.50 and let opponents hit just .231 against them.
The team has scored at least 10 runs in four of those games while holding opponents to three runs or less in 11 of those games.
BG will have to quickly right the ship from Wednesday’s game though.
After beating rival Toledo at home on Tuesday, 5-1, the Falcons traveled to Toledo a day later, ultimately losing 13-6 and surrendering the second most runs they have all season — and most they have surrendered in a loss.
Akron had more midweek success this time around.
The Rockets won a home game against Malone on Tuesday, 9-7, before defeating Youngstown State on the road, 4-2.
Either way, despite the recent success for the Falcons, they will urgently be looking to maintain their level of play at each of the three phases that coach Danny Schmitz preaches.
BG expects to continue rolling with its usual three-man rotation of Jason Link on Friday, Andrew Lacinak on Saturday and Zac Carey wrapping up the series on Sunday.
The pitching has been a drastic improvement from the beginning of the year, and now-closer Trevor Blaylock’s midweek start has been a welcomed surprise that bodes well for the Falcons to win their fifth consecutive MAC series win.
