Softball Splits Day Two At Phyllis Rafter Tournament

Sunday, February 24

Kennesaw, Ga.

10 a.m.

Bowling Green State University

Campbell University

February 24, 2013 | Softball

By: BGSU-Athletic Communications

Boxscore: Game 1 | Game 2

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Bowling Green State University softball team earned another split on the second day of the Phyillis Rafter Memorial Tournament, putting the Falcons' overall record at 3-2. The Orange and Brown fell to Jacksonville State in their first action of the day, losing to the Gamecocks by a score of 12-7. Bowling Green rebounded with a win over Campbell University in game two, defeating the Camels, 4-3.

In the first game of the day the Falcons recorded five hits, resulting in a season-high seven runs. Senior Andrea Arney recorded her first home run of the season, going 1-for-3 in the contest with three runs scored and an RBI. Junior Katie Yoho also hit her first home run of 2013, finishing the game 1-for-4 with three RBI. Freshman Marisa Shook went 1-for-3, earning her first career hit with an RBI double.

Three Falcon pitchers saw the mound against Jacksonville State, with the majority of the time going to freshman Braiden Dillow (0-1). In her first career collegiate appearance, Dillow allowed four earned runs and struck out two batters in 4.1 innings of work. Sophomore Paris Imholz started the game, but was pulled in favor of Dillow after allowing two earned runs and striking out one in the first inning of play. Fellow Sophomore Jamie Kertes finished the contest, allowing three earned runs in the final 1.1 innings.

Jacksonville State put Bowling Green in an early hole, scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the first inning. The Falcons responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame, thanks to a two-RBI single from junior Erika Stratton.
After another run from the Gamecocks in the top of the second, Arney's solo home run in the bottom of the third pulled the Falcons back to within two.

With the score at-5-3 in favor of Jacksonville State, the Gamecocks recorded four-straight runs, crossing the plate twice in the fourth and fifth inning, respectively. The Falcons responded with their best inning of the game, scoring three runs on two hits to pull within three. Jacksonville matched the Falcon scoring frame with its own three-run inning in the top of the seventh, putting the score at 12-6 in favor of the Gamecocks. A solo home run from Yoho in the bottom the seventh inning wasn't enough for the comeback, as the Falcons fell to Jacksonville State, 12-7.

"We had a slow start today," said head coach Shannon Slasburg. "We didn't come ready to play and Jacksonville beat us in every facet of the game.

In game two against Campbell, senior Paige Berger led the way offensively for Bowling Green. Berger finished the day 3-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored and her first home run of 2013. Imholz (2-0) picked up the win, striking out two and allowing just two hits in 4.1 innings of work.

Campbell University scored the first two runs of the contest, crossing the plate once in the bottom of the first and once in the bottom of the second. The Bowling Green bats finally came to life in the top of the third frame, as the Falcons scored three runs on three hits to pull ahead 3-2. Back-to-back RBI singles from Berger and Yoho started the rally, before Berger stole home to cap the scoring in the frame.

The Camels pulled even in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring one run on one hit to put the score at 3-3. In the first at bat of the sixth inning, Berger belted a solo shot to left field for her 31^st career home run, giving the Falcons a 4-3 lead.

Imholz took care of the rest for the remaining two innings, shutting out Campbell to secure the Bowling Green win.

"The team regrouped and really put it together against a solid Campbell team," Salsburg continued. "Jamie (Kertes) and Paris (Imholz) did a nice job in the circle and the offense fought back every time Campbell scored. I think we learned a lot about ourselves this weekend, and I look forward to getting back on campus and continuing to work and get ready for next weekend."

The Falcons are back in action on March 3, facing off against Morehead State in the first game of the Buccaneer Challenge in Johnson City Tenn. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.